Disguised Operation Cracks Teen Murder Mystery

A Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) officer posing as a prospective groom helped unravel one of Narsingdi’s most talked-about murder cases, leading investigators to key suspects and exposing what authorities say was a carefully planned robbery that ended in the brutal killing of a 13-year-old girl driven by greed for cash.

What appeared to be a routine visit by a groom’s family to meet a prospective bride in a village home was, in reality, part of an undercover operation by the PBI. While the hosts welcomed their guests and exchanged introductions, one of the visitors was an investigator whose objective had nothing to do with marriage. Instead, he was attempting to confirm the whereabouts of two men suspected of involvement in the murder of schoolgirl Sumona Akter Tithi.

During the conversation, the investigators learned that although the suspects were not at the house, they were staying at a relative’s residence nearby. Acting immediately on the information, PBI officers raided the location and arrested two brothers, Ramzan Ali, also known as Limon, and Hasibur Rahman, alias Shanto. Subsequent interrogation and forensic investigation, according to investigators, uncovered the planning behind the murder and robbery.

The case dates back to the night of 27 January 2025, when 13-year-old Sumona Akter Tithi was attacked with a hammer inside her family home in Sheikharchar village under Narsingdi Sadar Upazila. She died from her injuries, while her mother, Asma Akter, was seriously injured in the assault. Cash was also stolen from the house, leading investigators to believe from the outset that robbery had been a motive.

Four days after the killing, on the night of 31 January, PBI officers arrested Ramzan and Hasibur from Boalmari in Faridpur. Investigators said they recovered Tk 1,001,100 from their possession. Based on information obtained during the investigation, two more suspects, Kawsar Mia and Imon Ali, were arrested in Narsingdi on 1 February. All four have since been charged, and the case is currently being heard before a court.

PBI Inspector Shahidul Islam, the investigating officer in the case, said all four accused had been sent to court and a charge sheet recommending the maximum punishment had already been submitted. Judicial proceedings are now under way.

The investigation was particularly challenging in its early stages. According to PBI officials, there were no surveillance cameras near the crime scene and no eyewitnesses who could identify the attackers. With little physical evidence available, investigators initially had few leads to pursue.

The breakthrough came after extensive discussions with Tithi’s father, Mofazzal Hossain. Detectives examined the family’s financial transactions, relationships and recent activities. During questioning, Mofazzal informed investigators that his elder daughter and her husband, who live in Cambodia, regularly sent money home. He also revealed that a trusted acquaintance, Hasibur Rahman, had often assisted the family in withdrawing those remittances.

That information shifted the direction of the investigation. PBI investigators conducted a technical analysis of Hasibur’s mobile phone records and found that he had been in Narsingdi on the night of the murder before travelling to Jatrabari in Dhaka early the following morning. Investigators described the movement as suspicious and inconsistent with his usual routine.

Another crucial lead emerged when officers received information suggesting that Ramzan Ali was travelling towards Kishoreganj carrying a large amount of cash. Investigators began monitoring his movements while simultaneously tracing his contacts and relatives across Kishoreganj, Faridpur and Narsingdi.

After several days of surveillance, mobile phone analysis and intelligence gathering, investigators concluded that the two brothers were directly linked to the crime. The undercover operation in Boalmari was then planned to confirm their location without alerting them. The strategy proved successful, resulting in their arrest.

According to the PBI investigation and confessional statements given by the accused before the court, the motive was financial. Investigators said Ramzan learned that Mofazzal Hossain’s family regularly received substantial sums of money from relatives working in Cambodia. The information was allegedly passed on through his elder brother, Hasibur, who was familiar with the family’s financial affairs.

Driven by the prospect of stealing the money, Ramzan allegedly recruited Kawsar Mia and Imon Ali to carry out the robbery. As part of the preparation, the group reportedly purchased a hammer and rope from a local market before executing the attack.

The investigation concluded that what began as a planned robbery escalated into a deadly assault, leaving a teenage girl dead, her mother critically injured and a community shocked. Authorities say the case underscores the importance of meticulous investigative work, technical analysis and undercover operations in solving serious crimes where conventional evidence is limited.