Auto-Rickshaw Driver Found Dead; One Arrested

The body of a missing auto-rickshaw driver has been recovered from a roadside thicket in Muradnagar, Cumilla, one day after he disappeared, prompting a murder investigation that has already led to the arrest of one suspect.

Police recovered the body of 28-year-old Mahbul from a bush beside a road in the Dorerpar area of Bailabari village under Tonki Union on Saturday afternoon. Investigators believe he may have been killed in connection with the theft or hijacking of his auto-rickshaw.

According to police and family members, Mahbul, a resident of Gokulnagar village in Muradnagar upazila, left his home at approximately 10:00 pm on Thursday with his auto-rickshaw. Before departing, he informed relatives that he was transporting two passengers to their destination. However, when he failed to return home late that night, concern quickly grew among family members.

Relatives repeatedly attempted to contact him by mobile phone, but his handset remained switched off. Family members spent the night searching various locations where he might have been, yet no trace of him was found. As the following day passed without any information regarding his whereabouts, anxiety among his relatives intensified.

The breakthrough came on Saturday afternoon when local residents spotted a body lying in roadside vegetation in the Dorerpar area and alerted police. Officers from Bangra Bazar Police Station rushed to the scene, recovered the body and began an investigation. Family members later identified the deceased as Mahbul.

Key Developments

The officer-in-charge of Bangra Bazar Police Station, Md Shafiul Alam, said preliminary findings suggest that Mahbul was strangled to death, possibly by individuals seeking to steal or seize his vehicle. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding his final journey and the movements of those believed to have been involved.

Following the recovery of the body, the victim’s father, Nurul Islam, filed a murder case against unidentified individuals. Acting on evidence gathered during the initial investigation, police conducted an operation on Saturday afternoon and arrested 25-year-old Naim Islam. Although originally from Daudkandi upazila, Naim had been living with family members in rented accommodation in the Nagarpar area of Muradnagar.

Police stated that important information was obtained during questioning of the suspect. Investigators are now pursuing additional leads to identify and apprehend others who may have been involved in the killing.

In a significant development, the stolen auto-rickshaw was later recovered from the Kodalkata–Mirzapur area, providing investigators with further evidence in the case. Authorities believe the vehicle may help establish the sequence of events leading up to the crime.

The victim’s body has been sent to the morgue of Cumilla Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Police said the arrested suspect is expected to be produced before the court on Sunday, while efforts to locate and arrest other suspected accomplices remain ongoing.

The incident has sparked concern among local residents, highlighting ongoing worries about crimes targeting transport workers who often operate late at night and in isolated areas. Police have assured the victim’s family that the investigation will continue until all those responsible are brought to justice.