The prime suspect in the widely discussed triple murder case involving a grandmother and her two grandsons in Khulna has been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) following a raid in Barisal.
According to a statement issued by RAB-6, the suspect, 38-year-old Rafiqul Islam Hawlader, was detained on Thursday night during a joint operation conducted by personnel from RAB-6 Headquarters Company and RAB-8. Acting on intelligence information, officers tracked him to the Kashipur area under Barisal Kotwali Police Station and arrested him without incident.
Following the arrest, Rafiqul was handed over to Sonadanga Police Station in Khulna for further legal proceedings. Investigators believe his detention marks a significant breakthrough in a case that has shocked residents of the city and drawn widespread public attention.
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Background to the Killings
The victims were identified as Baby Begum, 55, and her two grandsons, Shamim Bepari, 13, and Mustakim, 4. Their bodies were recovered on 30 May from a rented house in the Darus Aman neighbourhood on Tamizuddin Road in Khulna’s Sonadanga area.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Baby Begum had been killed by having her throat slit, while the two children were allegedly suffocated. The brutality of the killings triggered an extensive investigation involving local police, detectives and forensic specialists.
Discovery of the Bodies
Local residents became suspicious after noticing a foul smell emanating from one of the rooms in the house on the afternoon of the incident. Police were alerted and subsequently entered the property.
Initially, officers recovered the bodies of Baby Begum and Shamim. The younger child, Mustakim, was at first believed to be missing. However, a subsequent search led investigators to a locked wardrobe inside the room. After breaking it open, they discovered the child’s body concealed inside.
Members of the Detective Branch (DB) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) later collected evidence from the scene, including forensic materials believed to be crucial to the investigation.
Case Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident location | Darus Aman area, Tamizuddin Road, Sonadanga, Khulna |
| Date bodies recovered | 30 May |
| Victims | Baby Begum (55), Shamim Bepari (13), Mustakim (4) |
| Alleged method | Throat-slitting and suffocation |
| Main suspect | Rafiqul Islam Hawlader (38) |
| Arrest location | Kashipur, Barisal City |
| Arresting agencies | Joint team of RAB-6 and RAB-8 |
| Investigating police station | Sonadanga Police Station |
Motive Under Investigation
The murder case was filed by Masum Bepari, the father of the two deceased children, a day after the bodies were recovered. In the complaint, he alleged that longstanding family disputes lay behind the crime.
According to the case statement, Masum divorced his first wife, Fatema Begum, approximately four years ago following marital disagreements. Fatema later married truck driver Rafiqul Islam Hawlader. However, Baby Begum reportedly opposed the marriage and never accepted her daughter’s new husband.
Investigators say tensions between Baby Begum and Rafiqul persisted for years. Family members and local residents reportedly told police that Baby Begum frequently objected to his presence at the house and had barred him from visiting on multiple occasions.
The First Information Report alleges that between the night of 29 May and the early hours of 30 May, Rafiqul, assisted by unidentified accomplices, entered the residence and carried out the killings before fleeing the area.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine whether additional suspects were involved and to establish the full sequence of events leading to the deaths. Police officials have indicated that further interrogations and forensic examinations will play a key role in strengthening the prosecution’s case.