Schoolboy Found Dead in Rajshahi Field

A pall of grief and apprehension has descended upon the rural community of Bil Dharmapur in Paba upazila, Rajshahi, after the body of an 11-year-old schoolboy was discovered in a paddy field at dawn on Monday. Police have indicated that the circumstances strongly suggest homicide, though the precise motive remains under investigation.

The deceased, Adib Ahnaf, a fourth-year pupil at Bil Dharmapur Government Primary School, had left his home on Sunday evening to attend Taraweeh prayers with his grandfather, Shamsul Huda. According to family members, the boy became separated from his grandfather at some point during the evening and failed to return home. As the hours passed and Adib remained missing, his family grew increasingly alarmed.

Relatives and neighbours conducted an extensive overnight search, combing through nearby roads, relatives’ houses, and other locations he was known to frequent. Despite their efforts, there was no trace of the child until early Monday morning, when local farmers working in the fields came upon his lifeless body lying amid the crops.

Witnesses reported that a trouser belt had been tightly wound around the boy’s neck. Local residents promptly informed the police, and officers from the Katakhali (Kornohar) Police Station under the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) attended the scene. The body was recovered and sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Adib was the son of Mostafizur Rahman, a resident of the same village. Speaking to reporters, the boy’s maternal uncle, Mokhles Ali, described the killing as “deliberate and brutal”, alleging that his nephew had been strangled. He called for a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Habibur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Katakhali Police Station, stated that preliminary findings point towards murder. However, he cautioned that the definitive cause of death would only be confirmed after receipt of the autopsy report. No arrests had been made at the time of reporting, though investigators are examining multiple leads and preparing to file a formal murder case.

The tragedy has shaken the otherwise tranquil farming community, raising concerns about child safety and security in rural areas. Residents have urged law enforcement authorities to expedite the inquiry and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.

Incident Summary

As investigators await forensic findings, the community remains united in mourning, demanding clarity, accountability, and swift justice for a young life cut tragically short.