In a deeply disturbing incident in the Sadar upazila of Shariatpur, Bangladesh, a woman has been accused of killing her husband following a domestic dispute and subsequently dismembering his body into multiple parts before attempting to conceal the remains in different locations.
The victim, Zia Sardar, a Malaysia-returnee from South Mahmudpur area under Ward No. 7 of Shariatpur Sadar, had been married to Asma Akhtar for around eight years. According to local accounts, the couple first met while Zia was working in Malaysia and maintained contact via mobile phone before marrying. Both had previously been married before their union. After the marriage, Zia arranged rented accommodation for Asma in different locations, including Shabnur Market area in Shariatpur town.
Police and local sources state that tensions between the couple had been escalating in recent times. The fatal incident reportedly took place on 12 May during a heated argument at their rented residence. During the altercation, Asma allegedly struck her husband on the head with an iron rod, causing his death.
Following the killing, she is accused of attempting to conceal the crime in a particularly gruesome manner. The body was reportedly cut into six pieces using a knife, with flesh and bones separated. She is alleged to have stored parts of the remains in a drum and a refrigerator over the course of three days before attempting to dispose of them in different areas.
On Friday night, she allegedly transported portions of the body using an auto-rickshaw and dumped them at multiple locations, including areas along the Padma River in Mulfatganj and under trees in the Birchtola area of Shariatpur municipality. She later attempted to store flesh in a refrigerator at a rented residence in the Shabnur Market area, where a strong odour reportedly raised suspicion among locals. Residents subsequently contacted emergency services via the national helpline, leading to police intervention.
Authorities arrested Asma Akhtar on Friday night. During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to the killing and provided details regarding the disposal of the body. Acting on her statement, police recovered body parts from several locations, including four severed limbs from the banks of the Padma River in Naria upazila.
Key Timeline of Events
| Date/Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 12 May | Domestic dispute; alleged killing using iron rod |
| 12–15 May | Body dismembered and stored in drum/refrigerator |
| 15 May (night) | Arrest of accused after public suspicion |
| Post-arrest | Recovery of body parts from multiple locations |
Relatives of the deceased described Zia Sardar as a migrant worker who had returned from Malaysia and was living separately with his wife. Local residents stated that suspicion arose due to a foul smell emanating from the residence where the accused attempted to store parts of the body.
Police officials confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the killing and subsequent dismemberment.