The High Court on Thursday issued an order to exhume the body of Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, for a DNA test to confirm his identity.
The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam gave the order after holding a hearing on a writ petition filed by Harris Chowdhury's daughter Samira Tanzina Chowdhury. Barrister Mahdin Choudhury moved the plea before the court while Deputy Attorney General Redwan Ahmed Ranjib stood for the state.
The HC bench also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned why they should not be directed to exhume the body buried under the name "Mahmudur Rahman" at the Jamia Khatamun Nabiyyin Madrasa Graveyard in Savar for DNA testing to confirm the identity, why a death certificate should not be issued in Harris Chowdhury's name if the DNA test is positive, why the Interpol Red Notice against him should not be withdrawn, and why he should not be buried with due honour as a freedom fighter in his home district according to his last wishes.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the director of CID, the Superintendent of Police of Dhaka, and the Officer-in-Charge of Savar Model Police Station have been asked to respond to the rule.
