Couple Found Dead in Locked Room in Rajshahi’s Bagha

Police recovered the bodies of a husband and wife from their home in Arifpur village of Bajubagha Union, under Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi, on Tuesday morning (21 July), prompting shock and concern among local residents.

The deceased were identified as Monirul Islam, 45, son of the late freedom fighter Jamal Uddin of Arifpur village, and his wife, Swapna Begum, 38.

According to local residents, family members became concerned on Tuesday morning after receiving no response from the couple for a prolonged period. They reportedly called out repeatedly and knocked on the door of the couple’s room, but received no answer. As the door appeared to be locked from inside, relatives eventually broke open the lock of an adjoining room to gain access.

Upon entering, they found Monirul and Swapna lying motionless on the same bed. Police were informed soon afterwards and officers from Bagha Police Station arrived at the scene, recovered the bodies and began an initial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Bagha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Serajul Haque said the exact cause of death had not yet been established. However, police recovered a bottle believed to contain poison from the scene, while an odour resembling poison was reportedly detected from the couple’s mouths.

The officer said investigators were treating the matter seriously and examining all available evidence to determine what had happened. While the discovery of the bottle and the reported smell have raised the possibility of poisoning, police have not yet reached a final conclusion about the cause or circumstances of the deaths.

The bodies will be sent for post-mortem examinations after completion of the necessary legal procedures, the OC said. The forensic findings and post-mortem reports are expected to provide crucial evidence and help establish the precise cause of death.

The incident has caused considerable unease in Arifpur village, where the couple’s sudden deaths have left relatives and neighbours seeking answers. Police are continuing their investigation, and further details are expected to emerge once the post-mortem examinations are completed and investigators assess the evidence collected from the scene.

At this stage, authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the deaths were the result of suicide, an accident or any other circumstance. The final determination will depend on the investigation and the findings of the post-mortem examinations.