Lamiya Akter, the 17-year-old daughter of Jasim Uddin, a martyr of the July-August movement, tragically took her own life by hanging on the evening of 26 April, in Sheikhertek, Dhaka.
The young woman’s death has shocked both her family and the local community.
At approximately 9pm, Lamiya's lifeless body was discovered by local residents in her home at B/70, Sheikhertek 6 No. Road.
It was revealed that earlier in the day, she had gone shopping for clothes with her mother, Ruma Begum, who had planned to take Lamiya to their village home the following day for university entrance exams.
After dropping her younger daughter off at a nearby madrasa, Ruma returned home to find the tragic scene.
Lamiya’s maternal uncle, Saiful Islam, recounted his shock upon receiving the news from their village home, stating, “I was at the shop when I got a call saying my niece had passed away. I rushed to the hospital, only to find her body there. My sister lost her husband during the July-August movement, and now, she has lost her daughter. The perpetrators of Lamiya’s assault are out on bail, and now my niece is gone. Who can we turn to for justice?”
Neighbours reported that Lamiya had been in high spirits earlier, shopping for clothes in preparation for her trip to the village. However, they suggested that she may have been threatened or harassed, possibly through phone calls, which could have contributed to her tragic decision.
Local resident Jamila Khatun expressed disbelief, saying, "The mother and daughter returned together after buying clothes in the evening. The next thing we know, Lamiya is gone. We are left wondering: who will give us justice for this death?"
Adabor Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC), SM Zakaria, confirmed the incident and said, "We have dispatched a police team to the hospital. We will take appropriate legal action after speaking with the family."
This tragic event comes only weeks after Lamiya was reportedly assaulted on 18 March in Pirojpur, where she was gang-raped by two men, Shakib and Sifat.
The attackers threatened to release explicit images of the young woman on social media, further compounding the trauma that led to her untimely death.
The family now faces an agonising quest for justice, with many questioning the effectiveness
