Police in Gazipur claim to have solved the mystery surrounding a charred body discovered sixteen days ago by the roadside in the Brindaban area of Shreepur Upazila. Preliminary investigations suggest that the victim, 32-year-old Atikur Rahman, was strangled after failing to repay a loan, and his body was subsequently set on fire in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.
Gazipur District Police confirmed the arrests of six individuals in a statement released on Monday evening.
Victim and Arrested Individuals
| No. | Name | Age | Role / Relation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atikur Rahman | 32 | Victim; son of Taijul Islam, Kamalpur village, Nandail Upazila, Mymensingh |
| 2 | Imran Hasan | 24 | Primary suspect; confessed under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure |
| 3 | Tutul Hasan | 20 | Arrested |
| 4 | Najmul | 35 | Arrested; operator of the loan-providing association |
| 5 | Kamal Hossain | 32 | Arrested |
| 6 | Ruhanul Islam Ruhan | 23 | Arrested |
| 7 | Akbar | 29 | Arrested |
Police reported that the body was discovered at dawn on 28 February by local residents along a regional road in Brindaban. Officers promptly recovered the remains and began the identification process. A formal case was lodged at the local police station, and subsequent operations using modern investigative techniques led to the apprehension of the suspects and the identification of the previously unknown victim.
Circumstances of the Crime
According to statements obtained from the suspects, Atikur Rahman and his family had taken several hundred thousand taka in loans from an association managed by Najmul. When the debt remained unpaid and Atikur went into hiding, the creditors grew angry. He was eventually located and confined at Najmul’s residence in Mulaiad village, Shreepur. Atikur was then strangled to death.
In an effort to destroy evidence, the perpetrators placed his body in a sack lined with jackfruit leaves, transported it to a secluded area in Brindaban, doused the sack with petrol, and set it alight before fleeing the scene.
Shreepur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Nasir Ahmad confirmed the arrests and stated that further legal proceedings against the suspects are ongoing. Authorities emphasised their commitment to ensuring justice through a thorough investigation.