Police have recovered the body of a 21-year-old woman, identified as Halima Akter Munni, from her in-laws’ residence in the Anwara Upazila of Chittagong. The discovery was made at approximately 6:00 am on Sunday, 10 May, in the West Baraiya area of Battali Union. While the victim’s family alleges that she was murdered and the scene staged to resemble a suicide, law enforcement officials have stated that a formal investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of death.
Incident Details and Background
Halima Akter Munni was the daughter of Mohammad Ishaq, a resident of Kanchan Munsi Bari in Ward 4 of Raipur Union. Two years prior to the incident, she had married Mizanur Rahman, son of Nabi Hossain from Kalu Majhi Bari in West Baraiya. The couple has a one-year-old daughter.
According to the victim’s father, the relationship between Halima and her in-laws was fraught with tension. He alleged that his daughter was frequently subjected to physical and mental abuse by her husband and his parents. These domestic disputes had previously been the subject of several local arbitration meetings (Salish) in an attempt to resolve the conflicts, though the grievances evidently persisted.
Evidence and Allegations
Following the discovery of the body in her bedroom, the victim’s father, Mohammad Ishaq, publicly rejected the possibility of suicide. He reported that upon arriving at the scene, he observed physical inconsistencies that suggested foul play. Specifically, he noted that the victim’s feet were touching the floor while she was suspended and that there were visible injury marks on various parts of her body.
The following table provides a summary of the key individuals and locations involved in the case:
| Category | Details |
| Victim | Halima Akter Munni (21) |
| Father of Victim | Mohammad Ishaq |
| Husband | Mizanur Rahman |
| Location of Incident | West Baraiya, Battali Union, Anwara |
| Date and Time | Sunday, 10 May, 6:00 am |
| Police Station | Anwara Police Station |
| Status of In-laws | Fugitive (Absconding) |
Legal and Investigative Proceedings
Sub-Inspector (SI) Bashar of Anwara Police Station visited the site to conduct the initial recovery. He confirmed that while members of the victim’s paternal family were present at the residence upon the arrival of the police, all members of the in-laws’ family—including the husband, father-in-law, and mother-in-law—had fled the premises and remain at large.
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Anwara Police Station, Mohammad Junayet Chowdhury, stated that the body has been sent to the morgue for a post-mortem examination. He emphasised that the police are currently treating the matter as a suspicious death. “The investigation will determine whether this was a case of suicide or homicide,” the OC remarked, adding that the autopsy report would be a critical factor in the next stages of the legal process.
The victim’s family continues to demand a thorough and impartial investigation, calling for the apprehension and punishment of those they believe are responsible for Halima’s death. Police operations are reportedly ongoing to locate the absconding family members.