A horrific family tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning in Tangail’s Sakhipur upazila, where a three-and-a-half-year-old boy was hacked to death, allegedly by his own mother. The assault also left the suspect’s eight-year-old daughter from a previous marriage critically injured, sending shockwaves through the quiet hamlet of Khaliyar Baid.
The deceased child has been identified as young Ashraful. His half-sister, Sidratul, sustained severe hack wounds during the attack and was hastily transported to the neighbouring Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex for emergency medical treatment. Alerted to the incident on Thursday, 17 September, officers from Sakhipur Police Station acted swiftly to take the suspect, Aklima Begum, into police custody.
Reconstructing the family’s background reveals a complex dynamic. The child’s father, Shaheen Miah, married his first wife, Nasima, roughly thirty years ago. As the marriage produced no children, Nasima herself initiated and encouraged Shaheen to marry a second time. Shaheen subsequently wed Aklima Begum, who later gave birth to Ashraful.
Employment commitments, however, pulled the biological mother away from the household. Aklima worked long hours at a garment factory in Dhaka, leaving her away from home for extended periods. Consequently, caregiving duties for the infant fell almost entirely to Shaheen’s first wife, Nasima. Local residents noted that Ashraful grew deeply attached to Nasima, addressing her affectionately as “Boro Ma” (Elder Mother).
In contrast, the child had grown accustomed to calling his biological mother “Auntie.” Neighbours speculate that this emotional detachment and the boy’s refusal to recognise her as his mother may have bred deep resentment or psychological distress in Aklima. Family members, however, maintain that there were no visible domestic disputes or marital discord preceding the outburst, leaving the true motive clouded in uncertainty.
Overcome with grief, Shaheen Miah described his immense sorrow after waiting nearly three decades for a son, only to lose him in such a brutal fashion. He expressed disbelief that his second wife could attack both their toddler and her own eight-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, demanding a full police investigation and swift legal justice.
Addressing the investigation, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sakhipur Police Station, Murad Hossain, explained that the crime occurred near the border between Sakhipur and Bhaluka upazilas. The victim was rushed to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex, where attending doctors pronounced him dead; his body remains at the facility’s morgue pending post-mortem examinations.
Law enforcement officers secured Aklima Begum in custody to ensure her safety and facilitate interrogation, whilst formal legal proceedings regarding the homicide remain underway.
