Young Mother Found Dead, Infant Left Beside Body

A tragic incident in Dhunat upazila of Bogura has left residents shocked after the body of a 20-year-old housewife was recovered from the veranda of her husband’s family home, while her three-month-old son was found crying helplessly beside her. The circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear, and police have launched an investigation to determine whether it was a case of suicide or whether any criminal offence was involved.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening (16 July) at the home of Forhad Molla in Shiali village under Nimgachhi Union of Dhunat upazila. According to local residents, neighbours became alarmed after repeatedly hearing the cries of an infant coming from the house. When they approached the property, they found the lifeless body of Nammi Akter Nipa lying on the veranda, with her infant son, Nahid, crying beside her.

Neighbours immediately informed Nipa’s family, who rushed to the scene. Her parents and relatives first rescued the baby before notifying police. Officers from Dhunat Police Station later arrived, recovered the body, and began the initial investigation. On Friday morning (17 July), the body was sent to the morgue at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura for a post-mortem examination.

Nipa was the daughter of Lal Mia Pramanik of Baroitali village in Nashipur Union of Gabtali upazila, Bogura. She had married Bahadur Molla, a resident of Shiali village, around three years ago. The couple welcomed their first child, Nahid, only three months ago.

Police and local sources said the couple had reportedly experienced ongoing domestic disputes since their marriage. Family members and neighbours alleged that financial hardship and recurring family-related disagreements had frequently strained their relationship. Investigators are examining whether these long-standing issues played any role in the young woman’s death.

According to information gathered during the preliminary inquiry, Bahadur Molla took his wife and infant son to her parents’ home in Baroitali village at around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday (15 July). After leaving them there, he reportedly returned to his own home. The following afternoon, he went back to his in-laws’ house and brought Nipa and their child home at approximately 5:00 p.m.

Only a few hours later, at around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, neighbours telephoned Nipa’s family and reported that she was believed to have died after allegedly hanging herself using a scarf tied to a roof beam inside the house. They also informed the family that Nipa’s husband and several members of his household had left the property, leaving the three-month-old infant beside the body.

Nipa’s relatives arrived at the house at around 10:00 p.m. and took the child into their care. Police subsequently completed the necessary legal formalities and seized the body for further examination.

Nipa’s mother, Jelekha Begum, has filed an unnatural death case with Dhunat Police Station. Investigating officer Aminul Islam said that no visible external injury marks were found on the victim’s body during the preliminary examination. He added that Nipa’s husband works as an auto-rickshaw driver and that allegations of persistent domestic conflict are being treated as a significant aspect of the investigation.

Officer-in-Charge Atikul Islam said the victim’s husband and several members of his family have been absent from the house since the incident. Police are attempting to locate and question them as part of the investigation. He stressed that the exact cause of death would only be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received. Should evidence of any criminal act emerge during the investigation, those found responsible will face legal action in accordance with the law.

The incident has generated widespread grief and concern throughout the local community. Many residents have expressed particular distress over the image of a helpless three-month-old baby left crying beside his mother’s body. Police have urged the public not to speculate about the cause of death while the investigation remains ongoing, emphasising that the post-mortem findings and other evidence will be crucial in establishing exactly what happened.