Police have recovered the severed head and two hands of an unidentified woman from the Madertek area under Sabujbagh Police Station in the capital, triggering widespread concern among local residents and prompting a full-scale homicide investigation.
The grisly discovery was made on Thursday morning when residents spotted a suspicious polythene sack lying near the canal beside the Baganbari culvert in Madertek. At around 9:00 a.m., they alerted police, who arrived at the scene and found the woman’s severed head and two detached hands wrapped inside a polythene bag that had been discarded on a pile of rubbish beside the canal.
The victim’s identity has not yet been established. Officers from the police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have launched a coordinated investigation to identify the deceased and determine the circumstances surrounding the apparent murder.
Sub-Inspector Nure Alam Siddique of Sabujbagh Police Station said preliminary findings suggest that the woman was likely killed elsewhere before parts of her body were transported and abandoned at the recovery site. At this stage, however, investigators have not confirmed where the killing took place or what motive may have been behind the crime. Officials stressed that definitive conclusions will depend on forensic evidence and the progress of the investigation.
Soon after the recovery, a CID crime scene investigation team reached the location to collect forensic evidence. Fingerprints were taken from one of the recovered hands in an effort to identify the victim. Investigators are now comparing those prints with Bangladesh’s National Identity Card database and other relevant records to establish her identity.
Forensic specialists also collected additional physical evidence from the scene for laboratory examination. Investigators believe these samples may provide valuable clues regarding the sequence of events, possible suspects and whether the remains were moved after the killing.
The recovered body parts have been sent to the Dhaka Medical College morgue for post-mortem examination. Investigators expect the autopsy to shed light on the exact cause of death, the estimated time of the killing and the methods used by those responsible. Such findings are considered crucial in reconstructing the circumstances of the crime.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have expanded their search for the remaining parts of the victim’s body. Teams are combing nearby canals, drains and other locations where additional remains may have been disposed of. Police are also collecting CCTV footage from surrounding areas, interviewing local residents and verifying reports of women who have recently been reported missing.
Investigators say identifying the victim remains the most critical step in solving the case. Once her identity is confirmed, officers will be able to examine her recent movements, personal relationships, family background and last known whereabouts, potentially providing vital leads.
Police have emphasised that all possible angles are being examined. The investigation remains active, with efforts continuing both to recover the rest of the victim’s remains and to identify and arrest those responsible for what authorities describe as a particularly brutal killing.
