Police have recovered the body of a 50-year-old expatriate outside the front door of his residence in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur district. Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim, Rafiqul Islam Talukdar, was strangled to death, though both the motive behind the killing and the identities of the perpetrators remain unknown.
The body was discovered on the night of Saturday, 14 November, in the Kashigari Kachari area of Birahipur Guchchhagram. Harez Uddin, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Birampur-Nawabganj Circle, who also oversees Ghoraghat-Hakimpur police stations, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Officers examining the scene observed distinct signs of physical trauma on the deceased, including injury marks on his left eye and visible ligature marks around his neck, strongly suggesting asphyxiation.
Rafiqul Islam was the son of Saifuddin Talukdar of the same locality. According to his elder brother, Saidul Islam Talukdar, Rafiqul had returned to Bangladesh roughly eighteen months ago after spending nine years working in Malaysia. Six months prior to his death, Rafiqul and his wife divorced. Following the separation, his former wife moved back to her parental home with their two daughters, leaving Rafiqul to live alone in his house.
Despite living by himself, Rafiqul maintained a close daily routine with his extended family, regularly taking his meals at his elder brother’s residence nearby.
Recounting the events of Saturday night, Saidul Islam explained that the family grew concerned when Rafiqul failed to arrive for dinner as usual. Repeated attempts to reach him by mobile phone went unanswered. Concerned for his brother’s wellbeing, Saidul walked over to Rafiqul’s house and found the front door standing ajar.
He initially searched the surrounding premises and an adjacent vineyard without success. As he turned back towards the house, he spotted Rafiqul lying motionless right in front of the entrance. Saidul’s cries for help quickly drew relatives and neighbours to the spot, who subsequently alerted local law enforcement.
The sudden, violent death of a man who had spent nearly a decade abroad supporting his family has sent shockwaves through the quiet rural community of Birahipur. Local residents have expressed deep alarm over the security of solitary homeowners in the area.
ASP Harez Uddin stated that police have launched an investigation to uncover the motive behind the homicide and identify those responsible. The body has been recovered and sent to the Dinajpur Medical College Hospital morgue for a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause and time of death. Authorities confirmed that formal legal proceedings are underway and a murder case will be filed in connection with the incident.
