Four arrested after Bangladesh girl 'lashed to death'

Four people including a Muslim cleric have been arrested in Bangladesh in connection with the death of 14-year-old girl who was publicly lashed. The teenager was accused of having an affair with a married man, police say, and the punishment was given under Islamic Sharia law.

Hena Begum's family members said a village court consisting of elders and clerics passed the sentence. She was alleged to have had the affair with her cousin and received 80 lashes. The family members of the married man also allegedly beat the girl up a day before the village court passed the sentence in the district of Shariatpur.



"Her family members said she was admitted to a hospital after the incident and she died six days later. The village elders also asked the girl's father to pay a fine of about 50,000 Taka (£430; $700)," district superintendent of police, AKM Shahidur Rahman, said. He said it had not been established yet whether she died because of the punishment she received or another reason.

"We are still waiting for the post-mortem report. In the meantime, we are also looking for another 14 people including a teacher from a local madrassa in connection with this case," Mr Rahman said. "What sort of justice is this? My daughter has been beaten to death in the name of justice. If it had been a proper court then my daughter would not have died," Dorbesh Khan, the father of Hena Begum, said. He said those responsible for the death should be punished.