The body of a teenage girl was found in a sack with her hands tied in the Padma River in Sadar upazila of Pabna on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Riya, a resident of Raghabpur area in Sadar upazila of the district.

The body was recovered from the river at Balrampur-Pirpur under Bharara union of the upazila around 10:00am.

Police said the victim was believed to be aged between 14 and 16 years. A silver chain was found around her neck, while a shopping bag was tied around her neck before the body was placed inside a sack.

Locals said farmers heading to work in a nearby char area spotted a sack floating in the river. Out of suspicion, they approached it and discovered the body inside before informing police.

Locals also reported seeing an unidentified private car in the area around 10:30pm on Tuesday. 

They claimed four young men were inside the vehicle, which reportedly broke down while leaving the area and had to be pushed to the Balrampur embankment with the help of local residents.

Locals alleged that the girl was raped and murdered before her body was dumped in the river using the vehicle seen in the area on Tuesday night.

They said the circumstances surrounding the incident could become clearer if CCTV footage from nearby Char Balrampur High School is examined.

Police, however, have not yet confirmed the allegations.

Officer-in-Charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station Tariqul Islam said the motive behind the killing remains unclear. "We are investigating the incident and working to uncover the mystery behind the murder," he said.