Jatrabari Elderly Woman Found Murdered in Flat

Police have recovered the blood-stained body of a 68-year-old woman, identified as Sahida Begum, from a flat in the Dhania area of Jatrabari in the capital. Preliminary investigations suggest that she was murdered, with law enforcement officials suspecting that the killing may have been carried out during a robbery attempt. However, police said the exact motive behind the incident would only be confirmed after a thorough investigation.

According to police sources, Sahida Begum’s body was found inside a flat on the seventh floor of a seven-storey building in the Rasulpur area of Dhania, where she lived. After receiving information about the incident, officers from Jatrabari Police Station went to the scene and recovered the body.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Rafiqul Islam of Jatrabari Police Station said police received a call through the national emergency service number 999 at around 10:30pm on Saturday. A team was immediately sent to the location, where they found Sahida Begum lying on the floor in a bloodied condition. Following the completion of initial legal procedures, the body was sent to the mortuary of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Sunday morning for post-mortem examination.

Police said their initial examination found injury marks on the woman’s throat, apparently caused by a sharp weapon. Investigators also observed signs of possible looting inside the flat, with furniture and household items found scattered. These details have strengthened the suspicion that the victim may have been killed by individuals who entered the residence with the intention of stealing money or valuables.

Sahida Begum was living in the flat with her daughter-in-law, Sharmin Akter. Her only son is currently staying in Malaysia. Sharmin told police that she returned home from work on the night of the incident and found the flat’s door bolted from the outside. After opening the door and entering the residence, she saw her mother-in-law lying on the floor in a critical condition and immediately informed the police.

Police said information provided by Sharmin indicated that around Tk 5,000 kept inside the house was missing. The victim’s gold earrings were also reportedly not found. Investigators are examining these missing valuables as a possible indication that the incident was linked to robbery.

Despite the initial suspicion, police have not ruled out other possibilities. Investigators are looking into how the perpetrators entered the flat, whether they were known to the victim, and if there were any other motives behind the killing. Statements from residents of the building, nearby people and other witnesses are being collected as part of the investigation.

SI Rafiqul Islam said the incident appeared to have been carried out for robbery purposes at the early stage of the investigation, but a clear conclusion would only be reached after analysing all available evidence.

A case is expected to be filed in connection with the killing. Police said the post-mortem report would provide further details about the nature of the injuries and the exact cause of death.

Sahida Begum’s ancestral home was in Brahmanpara upazila of Cumilla. Her husband, Shafiqul Islam, is deceased. Police are contacting relatives to gather additional information that could help uncover the circumstances surrounding the killing. The investigation is continuing as authorities work to identify and arrest those responsible.