A long-standing murder investigation in Lakshmipur has taken a pivotal turn after a former local activist of Jamaat-e-Islami surrendered to the court, over a year after allegedly orchestrating the contract killing of his former wife.
The accused, identified as Abu Bakkar Siddique, previously served as a Rukn (a voting member) of the Char Kalkini Union unit of Jamaat-e-Islami under Kamalnagar Upazila. He turned himself in on Monday at the Lakshmipur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, seeking bail. However, following a formal hearing, Judge Sadequr Rahman rejected the bail petition and ordered that he be remanded into judicial custody.
Amzad Hossain, the legal counsel representing the victim’s family, confirmed the court’s decision, noting that the tribunal deemed the allegations against Abu Bakkar grave enough to warrant immediate detention.
Background and Financial Dispute
The origins of the tragedy trace back to a secretive marriage and a severe financial conflict. According to law enforcement findings, Abu Bakkar had been married multiple times previously. He eventually wed Saleha Begum, a widow, while concealing the matrimony from his existing family living in Char Kalkini.
During the initial phase of their relationship, Abu Bakkar resided at Saleha’s house in the Purba Char Martin area of Kamalnagar, where he assisted in tutoring her children. Investigators revealed that after gaining her trust, Abu Bakkar borrowed approximately BDT 3,000,000 from Saleha under the pretense of purchasing land.
Instead of acquiring property, he absconded with the funds, divorced her, and subsequently demanded even more money. When Saleha began persistently pressing him to return the substantial sum, Abu Bakkar allegedly decided to eliminate her to evade repayment. Law enforcement authorities established that he recruited a hitman, identified as Mohammad Selim, offering him a sum of BDT 50,000 to execute the murder.
Investigation and Arrest Details
The murder occurred on 15 June 2025. The following day, on 16 June, local police recovered Saleha Begum’s body from the banks of the Meghna River, near Motirhat in Kamalnagar Upazila. Following the discovery, the victim’s daughter, Fatema Begum, filed a murder case against unidentified individuals at the Kamalnagar Police Station.
The breakthrough in the investigation came in July 2025, when police apprehended Mohammad Selim. During interrogation and subsequent judicial proceedings, Selim confessed to his direct involvement in the crime. He disclosed that, under Abu Bakkar’s instructions, he lured Saleha to a secluded location. There, he assaulted and strangled her to death before fleeing with her gold jewellery, which he later sold in Savar.
Following the confession, the investigating officer—Md Kamrul Hasan, currently serving as the Officer-in-Charge of the Netrokona District Detective Branch—conducted repeated raids to arrest Abu Bakkar, who managed to evade capture for months.
Police formally submitted the charge sheet on 28 November 2025, naming Abu Bakkar as the primary instigator and mastermind behind the homicide.
Political Response
Addressing the allegations, A R Hafiz Ullah, Secretary of the Lakshmipur District unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, clarified that Abu Bakkar no longer holds any official position or portfolio within the organisation, though he acknowledged his past political association. He described the accused’s alleged involvement in such a gruesome crime as deeply regrettable.
