It is unlikely that Rahima Begum was abducted, SP Syed Mushfiqur Rahman of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Khulna, said today.
Speaking to journalists at a press briefing this morning, the PBI SP also said that they are hopeful of resolving this mystery soon.
“Rahima is not talking to anyone since she has been found. She is looking a bit nervous but is physically alright. We have come to know that before going to Faridpur, she had stayed in Bandarban and Chattogram for some days. We’ll disclose information as soon as we learn more details from her,” Mushfiqur said.
Also read: Rahima stopped talking when police found her and asked questions
Mushfiqur added that they have solved the mystery regarding why Rahima went to Abdul Kuddus’ house in Faridpur.
“Abdul Quddus used to be a tenant at Rahima’s Khulna house. Quddus used to work at Khulna’s Sonali Jute Mill. For some reason, Rahima tracked down Quddus, went to Faridpur and had been staying with the family since September 17. Efforts are on to understand why Rahima went to Quddus’ house,” added the SP.
“We have found a white shopping bag with Rahima which contained some clothes and medicine. No one takes clothes or medicine with them, if they are abducted,” said the SP.
While talking to journalists, Mushfiqur said that Rahima has longstanding enmity with her neighbours over land and police are not sure whether she went “missing” over this.
SP Mushfiqur informed that while six people have been arrested over the issue, three more have been brought to Khulna with Rahima. Police will interrogate all of them to find out what actually happened.
“Rahima will be produced before the court after questioning. The court will then decide what to do next,” said Mushfiqur.
On August 27, Rahima went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water near her home in Banikpara area of Khulna’s Doulatpara upazila around 10pm. Her family found her sandals, scarf and the pitcher she was carrying from the spot.
Also read: Reported “missing”, Khulna’s Rahima was staying in Faridpur since Sept 17: Police
The family first filed a complaint with the police, based on which an FIR was lodged by the cops against some people.
On September 13, after Rahima remained missing for 17 days and police failed to find her, her younger daughter Aduri Akter appealed to the Khulna court to transfer the case to the PBI, said Rahima’s elder daughter Moriom Mannan.
The same day the court ordered police to hand over the case to the PBI.