Police in Naogaon have arrested two men in connection with the alleged murder of a woman who was reportedly lured to a secluded area with the promise of marriage before being killed and her body set on fire in an apparent attempt to conceal her identity.
The arrested suspects have been identified as former union parishad member Babul Hossain and a man named Tarek. Police said preliminary questioning indicated that both had admitted their involvement in the incident. Investigators have also found information suggesting that two other people may have been involved, and efforts are under way to locate and arrest them.
Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarikul Islam disclosed the details at a press briefing at his office on Thursday, 20 August.
According to police, a burnt body was discovered in a mango orchard in the Volkadanga area of Dhamoirhat on the evening of 18 August. Heavy rain was falling at the time, but officers reached the location despite the adverse weather and recovered the remains. A national identity card, cosmetics and several other personal belongings were found near the body.
Around the same period, Kawsar Ali, the son of missing woman Marina Begum, went to Dhamoirhat Police Station to file a general diary after losing contact with his mother. Police subsequently took him to the recovery site, where he identified the body after seeing the identity card and personal belongings.
Investigators then began examining Marina’s movements and her recent contacts. Police said information gathered through technological analysis, local inquiries and the examination of various leads eventually placed Babul and Tarek under suspicion. They were later arrested during separate operations. Police also said several items allegedly connected to the killing were recovered based on information provided during questioning.
Investigators said Babul had become acquainted with Marina through the buying and selling of milk. Their relationship reportedly became closer over time, with the two communicating regularly by mobile phone. Police said Babul told investigators that Marina had been pressuring him to marry her and had threatened to take her own life if he refused.
According to the police account, Babul subsequently told Marina that he would marry her on 16 August. Believing the assurance, she reportedly bought new clothes, shoes and cosmetics and carried her national identity card with her. Police said she left home apparently believing that she was going to make preparations for the marriage.
Investigators allege that after Marina left home on the afternoon of 16 August, Tarek and others went towards Shahapur Union on Babul’s instructions to collect her. She was then taken to Agradiganj Market before being transported later that night by motorcycle and autorickshaw to an area beside the Monihari-Talpukur road. Police said she was eventually taken about 300 feet from the roadside into the mango orchard at Volkadanga.
Police allege that once inside the orchard, Tarek and another man, acting on Babul’s instructions, wrapped a belt around Marina’s neck and pulled it from opposite directions. She died during the assault, investigators said.
The police further allege that straw and other combustible material were then placed over the body. Babul is accused of pouring petrol over the remains and setting them alight with a gas lighter. Investigators believe the fire was intended to destroy evidence and make identification more difficult.
Marina’s family said she had left home on 14 August and failed to return. Her son Kawsar Ali and husband Hasen Ali reportedly live in Cumilla for work, leaving the family increasingly concerned after her disappearance.
Police are now examining whether the alleged dispute over marriage was the sole motive or whether other factors contributed to the killing. Investigators are also verifying the statements made by the two arrested suspects and assessing the alleged roles of the two other individuals.
The case has caused considerable concern in the local community, particularly because of the allegation that Marina was taken to an isolated location after being given an assurance of marriage. Police said every person found to have played a role in the killing would be identified and dealt with according to law. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.
