United News of Bangladesh

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested three people in connection with the killing of an auto-rickshaw driver in Kapasia of Gazipur allegedly to steal his vehicle, following which his 75-year-old mother died of cardiac arrest. The arrestees are Rajib Khan, 29, of Chalar Bazar in Ghagtia area, Nakibul Hasan Rakib, 24, of Mirzanagar, in Kapasia, and Mohammad Kibria, 42, owner of Al-Madina Enterprise at Hatirdia bus stand in Monohardi upazila of Narsingdi. Muggers killed Ataur Rahman alias Ata Mia, 60, at Mirzanagar of the upazila on August 20 and looted his battery-powered rickshaw. The victim’s 75-year-old mother also died after suffering cardiac arrest upon learning of her son’s death on the same day. According to Gazipur PBI Superintendent of Police Md Rakibul Akter, Ataur left home around 4pm on August 20 with his auto-rickshaw, worth around Tk 1.4 lakh, to earn a living. Before 8pm that day, unidentified assailants attacked and killed him near Mirzanagar Girls’ High School in the Dakkhin Gaogaan area under Sonmania union. They fled with the auto-rickshaw and his mobile phone. A case was filed with Kapasia Police Station on August 21 against unidentified suspects. The PBI later took over the investigation. Using advanced technology, digital forensic analysis and information from confidential sources, it arrested Rajib and Rakib within 24 hours of the incident from Chalar Bazar and Narottampur areas of Kapasia. Based on their information, investigators recovered the stolen auto-rickshaw from Al-Madina Enterprise and arrested the shop owner on charges of purchasing and keeping the vehicle despite knowing it was stolen. The PBI also recovered Tk 22,000 from the sale of the auto-rickshaw, along with the iron rod, hammer and rope allegedly used in the killing. Investigators found that the suspects sold the auto-rickshaw for Tk 42,000 and divided the money among themselves. According to the PBI, Rajib and Rakib confessed to the killing in statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They allegedly planned the robbery after becoming burdened with debt and chose Ataur as an easy target because Rakib was distantly related to him. On the day of the incident, they allegedly called Ataur to an isolated location, strangled him with a rope and hit him on the head with an iron rod and hammer. They then left his body there and took the auto-rickshaw to Hatirdia in Narsingdi, where they sold it.

The heinous killing of five members of a family inside a rented house in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur has sent shockwaves through the area, with investigators suspecting that the murders were carefully planned long before it took place. Police say the prime suspect, Forkan Mia, a private car driver, allegedly fled after slaughtering his wife, three daughters and brother-in-law, leaving behind five identical typed “notes” beside the bodies. The victims were identified as Forkan’s wife Sharmin Khanom, 40; daughters Meem, 16, Maria, 8, and Faria, 2; and Sharmin’s younger brother Rasul, 22. Their bodies were recovered from a rented house in Rautkona village on Saturday morning. Investigators suspect the killings may have been driven by long-standing family disputes, allegations of an extramarital relationship, and financial conflicts involving Tk 10 lakh, though police say all claims are still being verified. A silent house, a horrifying discovery According to police and local residents, relatives rushed to the house after receiving a phone call from Forkan early Saturday informing them about the deaths. When they entered the residence, they found the bodies lying inside with deep throat injuries. The house, owned by expatriate Monir Hossain, had been rented by Forkan around five months ago after he moved from Tongi with his family. Neighbours told investigators the family kept largely to themselves and had little interaction with local residents. Police officials believe the isolated location may have been chosen deliberately. Typed accusations left beside bodies One of the most startling discoveries at the scene was five identical typed documents resembling formal complaint letters addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station. According to investigators, the documents contained allegations against Sharmin and several of her relatives. The papers claimed that Sharmin was involved in an extramarital relationship with a cousin and that members of her family had embezzled around Tk 10 lakh earned by Forkan and used the money to purchase land. The documents also alleged that Forkan had been tied up and assaulted on May 5 after confronting his wife over the alleged affair. Police officials said they are trying to determine whether any such complaint had actually been filed with the police station mentioned in the documents. Investigators stressed that the allegations remain unverified. Signs of premeditation Crime scene investigators recovered liquor bottles, machetes and other materials from the house, leading police to suspect the victims may have been drugged before the killings. Officials involved in the investigation said the murders appeared highly planned. “Several important pieces of evidence have been collected from the scene. After the killings, Forkan allegedly switched off his mobile phone and disappeared. Police suspect he fled using the private vehicle he used for work. Multiple agencies join investigation Additional Superintendent of Police (Kaliganj Circle) Md Asaduzzaman said the bodies were sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsies. He said teams from district police, Detective Branch (DB), CID and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) are conducting parallel investigations. “We are examining all evidence carefully and trying to arrest the accused as quickly as possible,” he said. Police also confirmed that two people are being questioned over possible links to the case, though their identities have not yet been disclosed. Shock and fear in the neighbourhood The gruesome killings have left residents of the quiet rural neighbourhood stunned. Many gathered outside the house throughout the day as police cordoned off the area and forensic teams collected evidence. Locals said they never imagined such violence could occur inside the seemingly quiet family home.

The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Wednesday arrested five people over the killing of a woman and her three children at Abdar of Sreepur upazila.