Meghalaya to Repatriate Body of Prominent Bangladeshi Political Leader

Arrangements have been finalized to repatriate the body of Ishaque Ali Khan Panna, a member of Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League, with the coordination of India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The necessary paperwork was completed on Friday at the East Jaintia Hills police station and the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Meghalaya, allowing for the planned movement of the body to Bangladesh. However, the transfer is scheduled for Saturday morning as it was too late to carry out the process on Friday.

An official from the Bangladesh High Commission, delegated by Panna’s family, arrived in Meghalaya to oversee the identification and repatriation of the body to Pirojpur district in Bangladesh. The body was identified at the Khliehriat Civil Hospital mortuary, confirming its identity as Panna’s. The authorities have planned to transport the body by road via the Dawki land port, with coordination between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to ensure a smooth transfer.

The transfer of the body will commence at 5 AM from Khliehriat Civil Hospital in Meghalaya. The post-mortem report from Khliehriat Civil Hospital revealed that Ishaque Ali Khan Panna died due to throttling, and the investigation by the Forensic Science Laboratory is ongoing to gather further details. Meghalaya’s Deputy Chief Minister for Home Affairs, Prestone Tynsong, confirmed these findings and emphasized the seriousness of the case.

Tynsong mentioned that there is a possibility that Panna’s body was abandoned on Indian soil, despite the night curfew along the India-Bangladesh border, which was imposed due to unrest in Bangladesh and to prevent cross-border infiltration. The authorities have been discreet about the case due to its sensitive nature, maintaining secrecy around the recovery of Panna’s body to avoid complications.

While the overall situation is being managed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Home Affairs, the primary responsibility of the Meghalaya state government is to ensure the smooth transfer of Panna’s body to Bangladesh. The body was discovered on August 26 in a betel nut plantation in Dona Bhoi village, East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, near the India-Bangladesh border, raising concerns about cross-border issues.

The circumstances surrounding Panna’s death and the disposal of his body on Indian soil are now under investigation by various security agencies. The case has garnered significant attention due to its potential implications for bilateral relations, and both countries are working closely to resolve the matter with the utmost care and sensitivity.