Police have arrested a 28-year-old truck driver in Meherpur town following a horrific overnight assault that left his former wife with her right hand severed and her parents critically injured. The violent episode has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising urgent concerns over domestic disputes and escalating violence.
The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Sriti Khatun, a second-year undergraduate student at a local college. Her father, Selim Hossain, operates an electronics business, while her mother, Rebeka Khatun, is a homemaker. The detained suspect, Sayan Mia, resides in the Mallikpara area of the town and works as a commercial truck driver.
According to police reports and neighbourhood accounts, Sriti and Sayan had maintained a romantic relationship prior to marrying on August 15, despite strong objections from Sriti’s family. The union proved short-lived as domestic tensions mounted, prompting Sriti to legally divorce Sayan on August 23 under mounting family pressure.
Investigators believe the sudden dissolution of the marriage triggered intense resentment in Sayan. In the dead of night, around 1:30 AM on Tuesday, he allegedly scaled the window grilles of Selim Hossain’s residence in the Lordmarket area. Armed with a sharp weapon, he entered Sriti’s bedroom while the household was asleep and launched a vicious attack.
During the onslaught, Sriti’s right hand was severed from her body. Hearing her piercing cries, her parents rushed from an adjacent room to intervene. Sayan turned his weapon on them, inflicting deep slash wounds before fleeing the premises under the cover of darkness.
Alerted by the commotion, neighbours rushed to the scene, rescued the bleeding victims, and transported them urgently to Meherpur General Hospital. Dr M M Zahidul Islam, the resident medical officer at the hospital, noted that all three family members arrived in critical condition. “Sriti’s right hand was completely severed, and her parents sustained severe, deep weapon injuries,” he stated. Following emergency care, their rapidly deteriorating condition necessitated an immediate transfer to Dhaka for advanced surgical treatment.
Following an intensive manhunt launched immediately after the incident, law enforcement officers tracked down Sayan Mia. He was apprehended around 7:00 AM on Wednesday from a mango orchard located in Mallikpara.
Humayun Kabir, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Meherpur Sadar Police Station, confirmed the arrest. Initial interrogations indicate that the attack stemmed directly from anger over the recent divorce. Authorities are currently finalising formal legal proceedings against the suspect as the investigation continues.
