Key Highlights
- A heartbreaking incident of collecting interest money by keeping a dead body in Chitla village of Damurhudar.
- A demand of 22 thousand taka was made by keeping the burial of the deceased mason Harun, but it was finally resolved by paying 15 thousand taka.
- The accused interest merchant Morjina Khatun fled with the money, angering the locals.
- Locals alleged that Morjina has been harassing them with interest business and cases for a long time.
- UP members and locals have called the incident disgusting and shameful.
- The police station authorities have assured to investigate and take legal action if they receive a complaint.
An extremely heartbreaking and inhumane incident has taken place in Chitla village of Damurhuda upazila. The body has been kept in a morgue to collect interest. This incident has shocked not only the locals but also countless people on social media. A storm of condemnation has arisen all around.
How did this incident happen?
Harun (45), a mason son of Niamat Ali of Notunpara village, went to visit his daughter’s house in Mahajanpur, Meherpur on Saturday. He died suddenly of a stroke on Sunday morning. Later, when the body was brought to his village in Damurhuda, preparations for burial were underway after Asr prayers. At that time, the inhumane incident occurred.
Marjina Khatun, the wife of the late Mohan Ali, a neighbor, claimed that Harun had left her with an outstanding interest of Tk 15,000. She said that if the money was not paid, she would not allow the body to be buried. This led to an argument between the grieving family, who kept the body aside. An hour later, the family was forced to pay Tk 15,000 in cash. The body was buried immediately. Taking the money in hand, Marjina fled, angered by the locals.
Interest Traps and Allegations
Matinur Islam Manik, cousin of the deceased Harun, said,
আমার ভাই গত দেড় মাস আগে মর্জিনা খাতুনের কাছ থেকে ৮ হাজার টাকা ধার নেন। সেই টাকা তিনি ব্যবসায় কাজে লাগিয়েছিলেন। রোববার সকালে লাশ গোসলের সময় মর্জিনা দাবি করেন ২২ হাজার টাকা সুদের টাকা পাবেন। দাফন শেষে এ বিষয়টি মিটমাট করা হবে জানালে মর্জিনা দাবি করেন টাকা না পেলে লাশ দাফন করতে দেবে না। হারুনের পরিবার জানায়, আমরা একটি গরু তার বাড়িতে রেখে আসতে চেয়েছিলাম। পরে নগদ টাকা দিয়ে গরুটা নিয়ে আসব। কিন্তু তাতেও তিনি রাজি হননি। পরে ২২ হাজার টাকা থেকে কমিয়ে ১৫ হাজার টাকা দাবি করেন মর্জিনা খাতুন। এরপরই পরিবারের সদস্যরা ১৫ হাজার টাকা সংগ্রহ করে লাশের খাটিয়ার ওপর রাখেন। পরে সেই টাকা মর্জিনা খাতুন নিয়ে চলে যান।
Translation:“My brother borrowed 8,000 taka from Morjina Khatun a month and a half ago. He used that money in his business. On Sunday morning, while bathing the body, Morjina demanded that he get 22,000 taka as interest. When they told him that the matter would be settled after the burial, Morjina demanded that the body not be buried unless he received the money. Harun’s family said that we wanted to leave a cow at his house. Later, we will bring the cow in cash. But he did not agree to that either. Later, Morjina Khatun demanded a reduction of 15,000 taka from 22,000 taka. After that, the family members collected 15,000 taka and placed it on the body’s bier. Later, Morjina Khatun took the money and left.
Response from local representatives
Locals say that Morjina Khatun is a big moneylender in the area. She is destroying the people of the village. Whenever they protest, a case of women’s violence is filed against her. That’s why no one can speak against her.
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Local UP member Atiyar Rahman expressed his anger and said,
মূল টাকা হারুন জীবিত থাকতেই পরিশোধ করেছিলেন। মৃত্যুর পর তার মরদেহ আটকে রেখে সুদের টাকা আদায় করা সমাজের চোখে ন্যাক্কারজনক, ঘৃণিত ও লজ্জাজনক কাজ। তিনি দীর্ঘদিন ধরে সুদের ব্যবসা করে আসছেন। অনেকের বিরুদ্ধে মামলা করেও হয়রানি করেছেন।
Translation: Harun had paid the principal while he was alive. Collecting interest money by keeping his body after his death is a shameful, disgusting and shameful act in the eyes of society. He has been in the interest business for a long time. He has also filed cases against many people and harassed them.
When asked about this, Damurhuda Model Police Station OC Humayun Kabir said,
এমন কোনো ঘটনা আমার জানা নেই। তবে অভিযোগ পেলে তদন্ত সাপেক্ষে ব্যবস্থা অভিযুক্ত ব্যক্তির বিরুদ্ধে আইনি ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হবে।
Translation: “I am not aware of any such incident. However, if a complaint is received, legal action will be taken against the accused subject to investigation.”
Source: Jugantor
