Keraniganj Mother–Daughter Murder: Husband ০n Remand

A Dhaka court has placed Humayun Kabir, the husband of a private tutor, on three days’ police remand in connection with the brutal killing of a woman and her teenage daughter whose decomposed bodies were recovered from a flat in Keraniganj. Investigators believe the murders may be linked to a dispute over loan guarantees, as fresh details continue to emerge in a case that has shocked the local community.

The remand order was issued on Tuesday by Senior Judicial Magistrate Tanvir Ahmed of Dhaka, following an application from the police. The prosecution argued that custodial interrogation of the suspect was essential to uncover the motive behind the killings, identify the precise sequence of events, and determine whether others were involved.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Sumaiya Akhter of the Dhaka District Prosecution Division confirmed the development. She said Humayun Kabir was arrested at around 10:30 am on 17 January from the Muktirbagh area of Keraniganj. Following his arrest, the investigating officer, Rony Chowdhury, produced him before the court and sought a seven-day remand. However, as the case’s primary documents were not immediately available, the court sent the accused to jail and scheduled a separate date for the remand hearing.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Kabir was brought before the court. Public prosecutor Nashidus Zaman argued in favour of granting remand, while no defence lawyer appeared on behalf of the accused. After considering the submissions, the court allowed three days of police remand.

The case centres on the killing of Rokeya Rahman, aged 32, and her daughter, Zobaida Rahman Fatema, aged 14. Their bodies were recovered on 14 January—21 days after they were reported missing—from a rented flat in the Muktirbagh area under Kalindi Union in Keraniganj. The flat belonged to Fatema’s private tutor, Mim Akhter, who lived there with her husband.

According to police, the murders were allegedly committed over a dispute related to standing guarantor for a loan. Investigators suspect that financial tensions escalated into violence, though they say the exact circumstances will only become clear after further questioning.

Fatema went missing on 25 December at around 5:00 pm after leaving home to attend a tutoring session at Mim Akhter’s residence. Her mother, Rokeya, disappeared later that evening. When repeated searches yielded no results, Rokeya’s husband, Shahin Ahmed, first filed a general diary at Keraniganj Police Station. With no breakthrough, he later lodged a formal abduction case on 6 January.

On the same day the bodies were recovered, police arrested Mim Akhter and her sister, Nurjahan. When produced in court the following day, both expressed willingness to give confessional statements. However, as Nurjahan was under 18, the court ordered her to be sent to the Gazipur Juvenile Development Centre. Mim Akhter’s confession was recorded, after which she was remanded to jail.

Key Timeline of Events

Police say the remand of Humayun Kabir is expected to provide crucial leads that will help clarify responsibility for the killings and bring the investigation closer to completion.