Brutal Murder of Teenage Auto-Rickshaw Driver in Noakhali

In a harrowing incident that has sent shockwaves through the local community, a 17-year-old physically challenged auto-rickshaw driver was found murdered in a remote paddy field in Noakhali. The victim, identified as Md. Abdul Ahad, was discovered on Sunday afternoon in the Kutubpur Union of Begumganj Upazila. Local authorities believe the motive behind this cold-blooded killing was the theft of his battery-operated vehicle.

Discovery of the Crime Scene

The grim discovery was made by local residents near the Munshi Bari bridge in Ward No. 1. Upon arriving at the scene, police found the teenager's body abandoned amidst the crops. The brutality of the act was evident; the assailants had used adhesive tape (Sellotape) to tightly bind the victim's mouth and neck, likely to stifle any cries for help during the assault.

According to Inspector (Investigation) Md. Habibur Rahman of Begumganj Police Station, the preliminary evidence suggests that Ahad was suffocated to death. "The manner in which the body was restrained indicates a premeditated effort to silence the victim before fleeing with the asset," the Inspector noted.

A Life Stolen Too Soon

Ahad, the son of Nurul Alam from the Osmania Factory area in Chattogram, had faced significant personal and physical challenges. Following his parents' divorce two years ago, he had been residing with his maternal uncle, Md. Azad. Despite his physical disabilities, the industrious teenager worked as a driver for a local garage owner named Jilani to support his family.

The Timeline of Disappearance

The victim’s uncle recounted that the ordeal began late Saturday night. At approximately 1:00 am, the owner of the auto-rickshaw contacted Ahad’s mother to report that the boy had failed to return to the garage. Panic ensued as the family searched in vain throughout the night. It was not until Sunday afternoon that the tragic reality came to light when passersby spotted the body in the field.

Current Status of the Investigation

Following the recovery of the deceased, the police prepared a surat-hal (inquest report) before dispatching the body to the morgue at the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital for a formal post-mortem examination. As of Monday morning, the stolen auto-rickshaw remains missing, and no arrests have been made.

The Begumganj Police have assured the bereaved family that a rigorous investigation is underway. Formal legal proceedings are expected to commence as soon as the family lodges a written complaint.