Elderly Woman Killed During Tarawih Prayers

An elderly woman was allegedly murdered inside her home while her husband was attending Tarawih prayers in Bhola’s Uttar Dighaldi Union, triggering widespread concern and tension among local residents.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 11 March, in Ward No. 4 of Uttar Dighaldi Union under Bhola Sadar Upazila. The victim, Halima Begum, aged 65, was the wife of local resident Mofizul Sikdar. According to family members and neighbours, she had been alone at home while other members of the household went to the mosque for the nightly Tarawih prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

Local sources and relatives claim that the killing may have been linked to a long-running land dispute between the victim’s family and neighbouring individuals, identified as Tofazzal and Latif Member. The victim’s family alleges that tensions over property boundaries and ownership had persisted for several years and had previously led to threats.

Harun, the victim’s son, claimed that the dispute had escalated in recent months. “Tofazzal and his sons had threatened to kill my mother on several occasions,” he said. “When we left for Tarawih prayers at the mosque, they allegedly took the opportunity to enter our house. They killed my mother and later took away land documents, cash and gold jewellery from the house.”

The victim’s husband, Mofizul Sikdar, recounted the harrowing moment he discovered the crime. Upon returning home after prayers, he noticed that the door to the house was open and that household items appeared to have been ransacked. When he entered the room, he found his wife lying motionless on the bed. His cries for help drew neighbours to the scene, after which local residents informed the police.

Following the incident, residents reportedly went to the homes of the accused individuals but were unable to locate them. According to locals, the houses of Tofazzal and Liton were found locked, raising further suspicion that they may have fled the area.

Police from Bhola Sadar Police Station arrived at the scene shortly after being informed. Officers recovered the body and sent it to the local hospital morgue for post-mortem examination.

Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam of Bhola Sadar Police Station stated that the investigation is ongoing. “The body has been sent for autopsy. The exact cause of death will be confirmed once the forensic report is received,” he said. He added that police are working to identify those responsible and take appropriate legal action.

The killing has generated fear and unrest among residents of the locality. Many community members have called on authorities to conduct a swift and transparent investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Below is a summary of the initial details of the incident:

Local residents have urged law enforcement authorities to expedite the investigation and ensure that those responsible for the crime are apprehended promptly in order to restore a sense of safety within the community.