The government has issued a notification attaching AKM Anisur Rahman, a member of Mongla Port Authority, to the Ministry of Public Administration, a day after the state minister indicated possible legal action under the Parents’ Maintenance Act following the death of the official’s elderly mother.
The notification was issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, State Minister for Public Administration Abdul Bari told journalists that Nurjahan Begum’s son, Joint Secretary Anisur Rahman, is currently serving as a member (Engineering and Development) of Mongla Port Authority.
“There are provisions regarding the maintenance of parents in the Parents’ Maintenance Act. If that remains effective, we will take action according to the law. Whatever is necessary under the law will be done,” the state minister said in response to journalists’ questions.
Police recovered the body of 75-year-old Nurjahan Begum from a house in Mirpur-6 last Sunday after receiving a call to 999.
According to police, Nurjahan Begum lived in the same apartment as her daughter but in a separate room. After not hearing from her for several days, her daughter called a nurse on Sunday. The nurse went to the room and found the elderly woman dead. Police were informed afterwards.
Nurjahan Begum’s eldest son, Joint Secretary AKM Anisur Rahman, is a member of Mongla Port Authority. Another son, Ashikur Rahman, is a teacher in the Computer Science and Engineering department of BUET. Her daughter, Fatema Nasrin Sultana, is a teacher at an English medium school in Dhaka.
The elderly woman’s death has sparked criticism from various quarters over alleged neglect by her children. The State Minister’s remarks came amid growing public concern over the incident.
