A 24-year-old man has been accused of killing his mother by attacking her with a machete and killing his six-month-old niece by repeatedly slamming her to the ground in Devibidwar, Cumilla. His sister-in-law, who reportedly tried to intervene and protect the infant, was also seriously injured in the attack.
The incident took place at around 8.30am on Monday at the home of Mostofa Master in the Southpara area of Barashalghar village under Barashalghar Union in Devibidwar upazila.
The deceased have been identified as Mosammat Firoza Begum, the accused man’s mother, and six-month-old Israt Jahan, his niece. The injured woman, Rabea Akter, was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
According to local residents, Emon suddenly became agitated in the morning and attacked his mother with a machete. He allegedly struck her repeatedly, causing injuries that proved fatal at the scene.
The attack then allegedly turned towards the infant, Israt Jahan. Local residents said Emon picked up the six-month-old child and slammed her to the ground, killing her. Rabea Akter reportedly rushed forward in an attempt to save the baby, but was also attacked and seriously injured.
Hearing the commotion, people from the surrounding area quickly gathered at the house. They rescued the injured Rabea Akter and arranged for her to be taken to hospital. Residents also detained Emon and locked him inside a nearby room before handing him over to police when officers arrived.
Emon’s elder brother, Mohammad Sujon, said Emon had remained at home since breaking his leg in 2018. He underwent surgery on the leg twice. Sujon claimed that Emon had shown signs of mental health difficulties following the injury.
Sujon said he had left home at around 7am on Monday. He later received the devastating news that his mother and daughter had been killed and that his wife had suffered serious injuries in the attack.
The precise motive for the killings has not yet been established. Police are examining whether the incident was linked to a family dispute, a sudden outburst or another underlying factor. No definitive conclusion has been reached about the circumstances leading to the violence.
Devibidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Moniruzzaman said officers went to the scene after receiving information about the incident and took Emon into custody. He said initial information suggested that Emon had been suffering from an illness for a long period, although the exact reason behind the killings remained unclear.
Police are continuing their investigation to establish what happened inside the house, what led to the alleged attacks and whether any other circumstances contributed to the incident. The condition of the injured woman and information obtained from witnesses are also expected to be relevant to the investigation.
The deaths of a mother and a six-month-old child within the same family have caused shock in the local community. The incident has also drawn attention to the need for authorities and families to respond carefully when a person is believed to be experiencing serious behavioural or mental health difficulties, particularly where there may be a risk of harm.
