Death of Akifa: Arrest order against bus owner, driver

A Kushtia court yesterday issued arrest warrants for the owner and driver of a Ganj-e-Raj Paribahan bus in a case filed in connection with the death of 13-month-old Akifa Yasmin.

The arrest warrants were issued against the two a day after the same court granted them bail.

The arrest warrant came after Suman Kadri, sub-inspector (SI) of Kushtia Model Police Station, also the investigation officer of the case, prayed to the court to include section 302 of the Penal Code in the case, our local correspondent reports.

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This is murder

According to section 302 of the Penal Code of 1860, a person shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine for committing murder.

Suman Kadri made the plea in the afternoon after the two accused, at around 11:00am, were already out in bail.

Senior Judicial Magistrate MM Morshed of the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Kushtia delivered the order on the plea and issued the arrest warrants at around 6:00 pm.

Akifa was critically injured when she fell from the arms of her mother Rina Khatun after they were hit by the bus on August 28. She succumbed to her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on August 30.

The following day, Akifa's father Harunur Rashid filed a case with Kushtia Model Police Station against bus owner Jainal, driver Altaf and helper Mohid Mia.

The CCTV footage obtained by police shows the bus was stationary when Rina started crossing the road with Akifa in her arms.

When she was about to cross the stationary bus, its driver set off without warning, hitting the two before speeding away.

As Rina was hit, the baby slipped from her arms and fell onto the road, suffering severe head injuries. Akifa was rushed to Kushtia General Hospital from where she was transferred to DMCH.

Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge of Kushtia Model Police Station, said police were trying to arrest bus owner Jainal and driver Altaf.