United News of Bangladesh

Police have recovered the bodies of a woman and her minor daughter buried near a pond at Ansardangi village in Sadar upazila of Faridpur. The deceased were identified as Jahanara Akhter, 32, wife of Amjad Sheikh of Parashullah Matubbar Para in Char Daulatdia of Goalanda upazila in Rajbari, and their four-year-old daughter Samia Akhter. Police recovered the bodies around 4:00pm on Thursday after receiving information from locals. According to family members, the mother and daughter had been missing since May 4 after going to attend a Kulkhani (post-funeral ceremony) at a relative’s house in the Char Daulatdia Haat area. Amjad Sheikh alleged that a local brick kiln worker, Ujjal Sheikh, might be involved in the killings. He claimed that Ujjal had previously been involved in mediation over an alleged extramarital affair involving his wife. On Thursday night, Faridpur Kotwali Police, with assistance from Goalanda Police Station, took Ujjal Sheikh into custody for questioning over the incident. Locals said several farmers working in nearby fields first noticed a foul smell coming from the bank of a pond owned by Hakim Ullah in the border area between Rajbari and Faridpur. As they approached the spot, they reportedly saw part of a human foot protruding from the soil while stray dogs were roaming nearby. They immediately informed the Goalanda Ghat Police Station. Md Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Goalanda Ghat Police Station, said police recovered the bodies by digging the soil with the help of local people. He said police from Faridpur Kotwali Police Station also reached the spot around 4:30pm as the area lies near the boundary of the two districts. “Senior police officials from both districts visited the scene. Later, with the help of local representatives and land surveyors, it was confirmed that the area falls under Faridpur district,” the OC said. The bodies were later handed over to Faridpur Kotwali Police Station for further legal procedures, he added.