The tranquil hills of Sitakunda have become the backdrop for a harrowing tale of malice and betrayal. Eight-year-old Ira Moni, a vibrant Year 2 student, has tragically lost her life in what authorities describe as a cold-blooded act of retaliation stemming from a long-standing domestic dispute between neighbours.
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A Premeditated Plot for Revenge
On Tuesday evening, 3 March, District Police Superintendent Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan convened a press conference at Sitakunda Police Station to disclose the chilling details of the case. The primary suspect, 45-year-old Babu Sheikh, was apprehended earlier that morning in the Kazipara area of Kumira. According to police, Sheikh has formally confessed to the crime during preliminary interrogations.
The motive behind this heinous act was reportedly a protracted feud between the suspect and the victim’s father, Monirul Islam, a local rickshaw driver. Living as a tenant adjacent to the Islam family residence in Masterpara, Sheikh allegedly harboured deep-seated resentment following numerous domestic altercations. In a perverse quest for vengeance, he chose to target his neighbour’s youngest and most vulnerable family member.
The Deception and the Ordeal
The sequence of events began on Sunday morning when Sheikh lured the young girl away from her home with the simple promise of buying her chocolates. Trusting a familiar face, Ira Moni followed him onto a bus departing from Kumira toward Sitakunda.
Upon reaching their destination, the suspect led the child on foot into the remote and rugged terrain of the local Botanical Garden. Deep within the secluded hills, the situation turned sinister. Police reports indicate that:
The suspect attempted to sexually assault the child in the wilderness.
When the brave young girl screamed and threatened to report his actions, Sheikh allegedly used a sharp weapon to slit her throat.
Believing the child to be dead, the assailant fled the scene, leaving her in the dense undergrowth.
A Final Display of Resilience
In an extraordinary show of courage, the critically injured girl managed to stumble out of the woods, reaching a road currently under construction near the Botanical Garden. Labourers working in the vicinity discovered her in a blood-soaked state and immediately alerted the authorities.
She was first rushed to the Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex, but due to the severity of her injuries, she was transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Despite the tireless efforts of the medical staff, Ira Moni succumbed to her wounds on Tuesday morning.
Case Profile: Incident Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Victim | Ira Moni (8 years old, Year 2 Student) |
| Primary Suspect | Babu Sheikh (45 years old, originally from Gaibandha) |
| Primary Motive | Long-standing domestic feud with the victim’s father |
| Crime Scene | Remote hills of Sitakunda Botanical Garden |
| Initial Charges | Murder, Kidnapping, and Attempted Sexual Assault |
| Key Evidence | Confession and forensic samples from the crime scene |
Ongoing Investigation
Law enforcement officials have since revisited the crime scene with the suspect, recovering several pieces of physical evidence. While the confession provides a clear narrative of the murder, forensic experts are still working to confirm the full extent of the assault. Police Superintendent Khan emphasised that the investigation remains active to determine if any other factors contributed to the crime or if additional parties were involved in the concealment of the plot.