Mother of 13-year-old Simi demands the real cause of her death be uncovered

Chandni, the mother of 13-year-old Simi, has demanded that the real cause of her daughter's death be uncovered and that she receive justice. She raised the demand in a written statement at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Tuesday (3 November).

Chandni alleged that before her death Simi had been subjected to physical torture, intimidation, forced drug use, rape and blackmail using recorded video. She claimed she went to the police station with these complaints but did not receive proper cooperation from the police.

In her written statement she said she lived with her daughter in a flat in the capital's Mohakhali area. In April 2026, a couple named Saidur and Tumpa moved into the flat as sub-tenants with their two children, arranged through the building's guard. After various incidents involving them caused concern, they left the flat on 1 May. She said she later learned that the couple was allegedly involved in the drug trade.

According to Chandni, on 20 May at around 7:30 in the morning Simi left home for school. When she did not return even after noon passed, her mother inquired at the school. Finding no information about her daughter there, she reported her missing at Banani Police Station in the evening. Sub-Inspector (SI) Rafiq of the station then began an investigation.

She said that at around 3:30 that night the police handed Simi back to her. Although her signature was taken on a piece of paper at the time, she was not told how or from where her daughter had been rescued. She also alleged that she was forbidden from asking Simi about the matter.

Chandni said that in later conversations with her daughter she learned of the alleged torture, forced drug use, rape and video blackmail.

She said that on 8 July at around 3:45 in the afternoon she took her daughter to Banani Police Station to file these complaints. The duty officer, Sub-Inspector Shakil, heard them out. However, since SI Rafiq had been the one to rescue Simi, they were told he would look into it when he arrived. When Rafiq later came to the station, he was told the whole incident and shown photos of Saidur and Tumpa. Even then, despite waiting until 8 at night that day, they received no resolution. They were told to come the next day. She alleged she was made to run around like this day after day.

She claimed that the police later denied their visits to the station altogether. According to her, the police said no one had come to the station with such complaints before Simi's death.

Chandni said that on the night of 15 July, after returning home, she noticed something unusual in her daughter's behaviour. When she asked about it, Simi angrily shut the door of her room. When the door did not open despite repeated calls, it was opened with the help of neighbours, and Simi was found hanging. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

The next day, 16 July, Chandni took her daughter's body to Banani Police Station. She alleged that after a long wait the police took down the body and recorded an unnatural death case without accepting her complaint. When she applied to file a case in court, the court told her there was no scope for a fresh case; once the police investigation report is submitted, if she is not satisfied she may apply for a reinvestigation.

Chandni said a part of her complaint relates to negligence in duty by the police, so she is concerned about getting justice from a police investigation itself.

She demanded that the real cause of Simi's death be determined by reviewing the post-mortem report, forensic information, digital evidence, mobile phone data, possible video and witness statements. She also sought an impartial investigation into the allegations of torture, rape, forced drug use and blackmail.

At the press conference Chandni placed an eight-point demand. It includes an impartial and complete investigation to uncover the cause of Simi's death, identifying the persons named in the complaint and bringing them under investigation, verifying the discrepancy between her account and the police's account of her visit to Banani Police Station, and taking action against anyone found guilty of negligence or misconduct in duty.

She also demanded that all relevant evidence, including post-mortem and forensic information, be lawfully collected and examined, that the safety of herself and her family be ensured, and that they be kept informed of the investigation's progress. Chandni said she does not want to establish false allegations against anyone; she only wants the true incident to come to light and accountability for any negligence that occurred.