A woman was killed and her husband critically injured after their son stabbed them with a knife at Palashbari village in Kurigram Sadar upazila early Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Munira Begum, 56, while her husband, Sardar Ali, 65, a retired textile engineer, sustained serious injuries in the attack. Their son, Suman Mia, who is reportedly addicted to drugs, went into hiding after the incident.
Police and locals said Suman has long been addicted to drugs. His parents had sent him to drug rehabilitation centres several times in an effort to help him return to a normal life, but he escaped from the centres each time.
The family was preparing to send Suman to a rehabilitation centre again. In the early hours of Wednesday, staff from a Sirajganj-based centre arrived to take him.
Agitated, Suman stabbed his mother in the chest and his father repeatedly in the abdomen before fleeing.
The rehabilitation centre staff members rescued the couple in critical condition and took them to Kurigram General Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared Munira dead. Sardar Ali was referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Officer-in-Charge of Kurigram Sadar Police Station Kamal said several police teams were conducting drives to arrest Suman, who remained absconding.
The body was sent to the morgue of Kurigram General Hospital for an autopsy.