Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated that autopsies will be carried out on those killed in the recent Gopalganj violence if deemed necessary.
“Autopsies are being conducted on those brought to Dhaka. But some of the bodies were taken away by their families. How can autopsies be done in those cases?” he said.
“If needed, the bodies can be exhumed for autopsy,” he added while speaking to journalists on Saturday during a visit to the third terminal of Dhaka`s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
On Wednesday, a protest organized by the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Gopalganj turned violent after clashes erupted between the police, army, and ruling party activists.
The conflict eventually spread across the city. Four people were killed in the unrest, and their bodies were buried without post-mortem examinations.
Another individual, who sustained gunshot injuries, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Thursday, and his autopsy has been completed, according to the adviser.
When asked about the lack of autopsies for the deceased, Jahangir replied, “Those who covered the events live likely have no such questions. But those who weren’t there tend to speculate a lot.”
“Live coverage often provides accurate information. Otherwise, sitting in air-conditioned rooms, people can speculate endlessly,” he remarked.
Regarding potential failures in intelligence leading up to the violence, Jahangir said, “A high-powered committee has been formed to investigate the incident. It will determine who was responsible.”
Explaining the purpose of his visit to the airport terminal, the adviser said, “I came to assess the immigration system—its current status and manpower requirements.”
He noted that approximately 400 immigration personnel will be needed for the new third terminal.
