A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking directives to appoint at least one female mortuary assistant, commonly known as a “dom”, in every hospital across the country that provides autopsy facilities to ensure the dignity of deceased women.
Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Monir Uddin filed the petition in public interest on Monday. The secretary of health, the director general of health services (DGHS), and other relevant officials have been named as respondents in the writ. The petitioner moved to the court after failing to receive a remedy from an earlier application submitted to the DGHS.
The petition argues that Bangladesh is a state with strong religious values, where Islam and other religions place significant importance on maintaining the dignity and privacy of a woman’s body.
It notes that while a post-mortem is a legal process, there is deep religious and social sensitivity regarding the touch or presence of men during the procedure on a female body. The appointment of female assistants would ensure that the privacy and honour of the deceased are better preserved.
The application further said families of women who die in road accidents or other tragic incidents are already under profound emotional trauma. In such circumstances, the knowledge that a male assistant performed the autopsy can cause further distress to the relatives. The presence of female assistants would provide a degree of mental solace to the grieving families.
Highlighting that women are now serving in almost every profession, the petition describes the recruitment of female mortuary assistants as a timely step. It claims that such a move would help meet the goals of religious sensitivity, the dignity of the deceased, and the elimination of discrimination.
According to international human rights principles, respecting an individual’s personal dignity and privacy even after death is essential.
To underscore the need for security in morgues, the petition cited several high-profile cases of sexual abuse involving deceased women. This includes the arrest of a 29-year-old assistant, Abu Sayeed, on 22 October 2025, following allegations of necrophilia involving the body of a young woman at the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue. The incident was confirmed by a morgue doctor and widely reported in the media.
The petition also referenced the arrest of Munna Bhagat, 20, on 20 November 2020, for the sexual abuse of bodies at the Suhrawardy Hospital morgue, a crime to which he reportedly confessed.
Furthermore, an international case was cited involving Kenneth Douglas, 60, a former morgue worker in Ohio, USA, who admitted to having sexual contact with approximately 100 bodies during night shifts between 1976 and 1992.
Considering these concerns, the writ seeks directives for the appointment of one female mortuary assistant in every hospital where autopsies are conducted to protect the sanctity and honour of deceased women.
