The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Gazipur district unit has successfully resolved the investigation into the murder of Kulsum Akhtar, a 46-year-old female grocer in the Meghdubi area of Gazipur Metropolitan City. Following a coordinated operation, law enforcement officials apprehended three suspects in Rangpur. The investigation revealed a calculated plot involving sedation and a fatal physical assault.
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Background and Incident Details
On 26 April, Kulsum Akhtar was found murdered inside her residence under the jurisdiction of the Pubail Police Station. The victim operated a small grocery shop and lived alone, a factor the perpetrators reportedly exploited. Due to the high-profile nature of the crime and the resulting public concern, the PBI assumed responsibility for the investigation. Within a month of the incident, the agency identified the primary suspects and the motive behind the crime.
Profiles of the Apprehended Suspects
The three suspects were identified as factory workers residing in the Meghdubi Koroitek area. They were tenants at the residence of a local individual named Kajal Mia, located adjacent to the victim’s home.
| Name | Age | Father’s Name | Permanent Address | Occupation |
| Kamruzzaman | 35 | Rafiqul Islam | Gangachara, Rangpur | Worker, A-One Polymer |
| Amjad Hossain | 30 | Badsha Mia | Gangachara, Rangpur | Worker, A-One Polymer |
| Afzal Hossain | 33 | Not Stated | Gangachara, Rangpur | Worker, A-One Polymer |
Motive and Premeditation
According to investigative sources, the suspects were regular customers at Kulsum’s shop and had accumulated significant debt through credit purchases. A recent altercation had occurred between the victim and the suspects when Kulsum demanded the settlement of these outstanding arrears. This dispute, combined with the knowledge that she resided alone, prompted the suspects to orchestrate a robbery.
The PBI Superintendent of Police (SP), Md. Rakibul Akhtar, stated that the suspects initiated their plan on the night of 25 April. They contacted the victim, requesting permission to bring a female friend to her house the following day for a brief visit. Kulsum agreed and instructed them to arrive the next afternoon.
On the afternoon of 26 April, Kamruzzaman arrived at the victim’s house carrying an assortment of fruits as a gesture of goodwill. During the visit, the suspects surreptitiously mixed sedatives into an energy drink, which was then served to Kulsum. Once she was incapacitated by the medication, the suspects used a sharp “da” (a traditional cleaver) found within the premises to hack her to death.
Following the murder, the perpetrators ransacked the house, stealing:
Cash: 3,250 BDT
Jewellery: Children’s bangles, a tikli (forehead ornament), and a necklace.
The suspects subsequently fled to Rangpur to evade capture. Upon attempting to sell the stolen jewellery, they discovered that the items were not genuine gold but “City Gold” (imitation jewellery).
Legal Proceedings and Recoveries
SP Md. Rakibul Akhtar confirmed that the three suspects have since provided confessional statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a court. Law enforcement has recovered the sharp weapon (da) used in the killing, along with a bamboo stick. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities finalise the case file for trial.