The mortal remains of senior Awami League leader in Bangladesh, Ishaque Ali Khan Panna recovered from Meghalaya was handed over to relatives at the Dawki-Tamabil international border with Bangladesh today.
This was done after identification and necessary paperwork were completed at the border. The body was handed over to the representatives of the Bangladesh High Commission and Panna’s family members by East Jaiñtia Hills District administration, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Jacqueline U. Kharpuri and incharge of the Umkiang Patrolling Post, R. Das.
The partially decomposed body of Panna was found in a betel nut plantation in the Dona Bhoi area of East Jaiñtia Hills District, approximately 1.5 kilometers from the Indo-Bangladesh border on August 26.
His identity was confirmed through a Bangladesh passport found from his body.
Panna, came to have died on Meghalaya soil after reportedly fleeing his native land after the eruption of violence there continues to be a mystery.
It was reported that the post-mortem revealed signs of strangulation but the Meghalaya government is still holding off on having a high-level inquiry look into the case, preferring to entrust investigations to the Meghalaya police.
Panna is a close confidante of then Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He is also the general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League, a student wing of the Awami League, the party that ruled Bangladesh from 2009 to August 5 this year.
The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Hasina was removed on August 5 after massive students protest across Bangladesh. Hasina was forced to flee to India.
Meanwhile, earlier this month at least 29 bodies of Awami League leaders and their family members were found across violence-hit Bangladesh.
