Ministry reviews possible action after senior official’s mother found dead in Dhaka

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Public Administration is considering whether disciplinary or legal measures are warranted after the body of an elderly woman was recovered from her apartment in the capital, drawing public attention to issues surrounding family responsibility and elder care.

Nurjahan Begum was found dead at her residence in the Mirpur area in Dhaka on 31 May. Officials have confirmed that she was the mother of AKM Anisur Rahman, a joint secretary-ranked government officer currently serving as Member (Engineering and Development) at the Mongla Port Authority.

Speaking to reporters, State Minister for Public Administration Abdul Bari said the government was verifying the circumstances surrounding the incident before deciding on any course of action.

“The matter is being verified, and action will be taken according to existing laws and regulations,” he said.

The minister also indicated that authorities were examining the relevance of the Parents’ Support Act, 2013, which is designed to ensure that children fulfil their responsibilities towards ageing parents.

The death attracted widespread public attention after police recovered Nurjahan Begum’s body from a flat in Mirpur 6.

According to police, she had been living with her daughter, Fatima Nasrin Sultana, in an apartment on the fourth floor of a five-storey residential building in Block C of the neighbourhood.

Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Hasan Basir said officers responded after receiving information through the national emergency service hotline, 999.

Police said the deceased had three sons who survived her. One serves as a senior government official, another is a teacher at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), while the third resides in Canada.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the cause of death or the findings of any ongoing investigation.

The Ministry of Public Administration has said it will determine its next steps after completing its review of the facts and assessing any applicable legal provisions.