Jhenaidah, Bangladesh – Police have uncovered a disturbing case after the body of a four-year-old girl was found hidden beneath a bed in a neighbour’s home late on Wednesday night. The girl, Saima Akter, was reported missing from her home in Eidgapara, Sadar Upazila, Jhenaidah earlier that morning.
Her father, Saiful Islam, a van driver, recounted the events leading up to the tragedy. “In the morning, I took Saima with me in my van briefly. I left her outside, playing while asking her mother to call her when lunch was ready. That was the last time I saw her,” he said.
Upon discovering she was missing, Saiful and local residents conducted an exhaustive search, checking nearby ponds, houses, and streets, but the child could not be found. Loudspeaker announcements were made in the area in a desperate attempt to locate her.
Later in the evening, suspicions began to form around their neighbour, Sontona Khatun, wife of Aktaruzzaman Masud. According to Saiful, “I went to the upper floor of their house to look for her, but Sontona denied Saima had been there. Later, I saw her carrying a bag near the pond. When I shouted, she ran inside. I immediately informed the police.”
Police arrived and discovered Saima’s body under a bed in the neighbour’s house. Sontona Khatun was subsequently taken into police custody for questioning.
Additional Police Superintendent Mahfuz Hossain stated that a thorough search had been conducted in local ponds and other areas following reports of Saima’s disappearance. “We received information late at night that the child’s body had been found in the neighbour’s house. The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear. The suspect is in custody, and investigations are ongoing. Details will be shared after the post-mortem report is available,” he said.
The incident has sent shockwaves throughout the community, raising serious concerns over child protection and safety in rural areas. Authorities have assured that all necessary measures are being taken to uncover the truth behind this heart-wrenching case.