In Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area, a domestic worker, Ayesha Akter, and her husband, Rabbi, have been placed on a three-day remand by the court in connection with the brutal killing of a mother and her daughter. On Thursday, 11 December, the Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka, Mahbub Alam, formally approved the remand order.
According to the investigating officer of Mohammadpur Police Station, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shahidul Osman Masum, the police had originally requested a ten-day remand for each suspect. Officials stated that the remand is necessary to obtain detailed information about the circumstances surrounding the killings, drawing on CCTV footage and other crucial pieces of evidence collected during the investigation.
The case was filed on Tuesday, 9 December, by AJM Azizul Islam, husband of the deceased Layla Firoz. In his complaint, he explained that his wife and their ninth-grade daughter, Nafisa, had been living in their Mohammadpur home for nearly thirteen years. Their ancestral home is located in Natore.
As part of his daily routine, Azizul left the house at 7am on Monday to go to school, where he works as a physics teacher. Since exams were ongoing, he had intended to return quickly. However, when he returned at approximately 11am, he discovered the lifeless bodies of his wife and daughter. His cries alerted neighbours, who immediately contacted the police.
A review of CCTV footage by investigators revealed that at about 7:51am, a young woman, estimated to be around 20 years old and identified as Ayesha, entered the house wearing a burqa. Later, at 9:36am, she left the residence in the school uniform of the murdered daughter, Nafisa, leaving without disturbance. This sequence strongly suggests that the killings were premeditated.
Preliminary police findings indicate that the murders were carefully planned, with the domestic worker playing a central role. Following the incident, Ayesha Akter was arrested on Wednesday, 10 December, at approximately 12:30pm at her aunt and mother-in-law’s home in Charakya, Dapdapia Union. Her husband, Rabbi, remains under police supervision.
The murders have caused widespread shock and anxiety among local residents, who have urged the authorities to act swiftly. The investigating officer expressed confidence that the remand period would allow the collection of clearer evidence regarding both the motive and execution of the crime.
Investigators stressed that the findings obtained during this remand will be vital for the judicial process. The police further indicated that if the suspects’ involvement is fully established, strict legal action will be pursued in accordance with the law.