A local Awami League leader, his wife and their domestic worker have been found dead with their throats slit inside their home in Sylhet city, in a brutal triple killing that has shocked residents of the Raynagar Mitali residential area.
The victims were identified as Abdus Sattar, described locally as an Awami League leader, his wife and their domestic worker. Police recovered their bloodied bodies from House No. 111 in the Mitali residential area at around 9am on Wednesday (12 August), after local residents alerted the authorities.
Nazmul Haque Nazu, general secretary of the Mitali residential area, confirmed the incident and said residents were stunned after learning about the killings. Police were informed immediately after the bodies were discovered.
Following the report, police officers, investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department and the crime scene unit of the Police Bureau of Investigation arrived at the house. Investigators began collecting evidence from the scene as they sought to establish what happened inside the property and when the killings took place.
According to the police’s preliminary assessment, the attackers may have entered the walled compound sometime on Tuesday night (11 August). The three victims were then allegedly killed inside the house before the perpetrators fled.
Investigators are also examining whether the victims had suffered injuries other than the fatal wounds to their throats. The condition of the bodies and evidence recovered from the scene are expected to form part of the investigation into the sequence of events.
The killings have caused widespread alarm in Raynagar and the surrounding Mitali residential area. A large crowd gathered outside the house after news of the incident spread, prompting police to deploy additional personnel to maintain order and protect the crime scene.
Abdus Sattar’s political identity has also drawn attention to the case. However, investigators have not yet established whether his political activities had any connection with the killings. Police are considering several possible motives, including previous enmity, political rivalry and a possible robbery attempt.
Mohammad Saiful Islam, deputy commissioner (North) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said preparations were under way to send the bodies to the morgue at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
The post-mortem findings, along with evidence collected from the house, are expected to assist investigators in determining the precise circumstances of the deaths. Police have not yet publicly identified any suspect in connection with the case.
Several police teams have already been assigned to the investigation, with efforts under way to identify and arrest those responsible. Authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged entry into the secured residence and the events that occurred before the three bodies were discovered.
As the investigation continues, police have yet to confirm a motive or say whether the killings were linked to a personal dispute, political conflict or a robbery. Any definitive conclusion will depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation and the findings of the post-mortem examinations.
