PBI arrests murder suspect within two weeks

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has solved the murder of a 39-year-old woman in Savar within two weeks, arresting the prime suspect from Kurigram while he was allegedly attempting to flee to India.

The accused, Masum Islam, 23, was arrested on 14 July from a border area in Kurigram.

Investigators said he later gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a court.

The development was disclosed by PBI Dhaka District Superintendent of Police M N Morshed, at a press briefing held at the PBI Dhaka District office in Uttara on Tuesday.

According to PBI, the victim, Sharmin Akter (39), was found dead in a rented house in the Bordeshi area of Savar on 2 July. Her blood-stained body was recovered from a bedroom, while a forensic team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) collected evidence from the scene.

Following the incident, the victim's father, Shawkat Hossain, filed a case with Savar Model Police Station on 3 July under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 against unidentified persons.

PBI took over the investigation on 8 July and Inspector Md Khaled was assigned as the investigating officer.

During the investigation, detectives used intelligence and technological evidence to identify the suspect's whereabouts before arresting him near the border, police said.

According to investigators, Masum worked as a lineman for Projapoti Paribahan and also assisted at his father's tea stall in Katlapur, Savar.

The victim had previously lived in a rented house behind the tea stall, where they became acquainted and later developed what investigators described as an illicit relationship.

Police said the victim later moved to another rented house in Bordeshi, but the suspect continued visiting her regularly.

Investigators said the two had a heated argument over the relationship on the night before the murder. On the day of the incident, the suspect allegedly went to the victim's house, had sexual intercourse with her and later strangled her with her scarf following another altercation before fleeing the scene.

PBI said forensic evidence, including biological samples and a cigarette butt, was recovered from the crime scene.

The victim's 14-year-old daughter, Samia Akter Zerin, was the first family member to identify the body, according to investigators.

Speaking at the briefing, SP M N Morshed said PBI had launched a shadow investigation immediately after the murder and formally took over the case to expedite the probe.

"Through a scientific and intensive investigation, we were able to identify and arrest the accused within just two weeks," he said.

He added that PBI believes scientific investigation, professional expertise and persistent efforts ensure that offenders cannot evade justice regardless of where they attempt to flee.

The PBI official said investigators are also examining whether anyone else was involved in the killing, adding that the investigation remains underway.