The deceased, identified as Md Russell, was the son of Sirajul Islam of Jomaddar Bari in Singbahura village, under Noakhla Union in Chatkhil Upazila. He was a leader of the eastern section of the Noakhla Union Labour Party.
Police recovered his body at around 2am from Chowkidar Bari in Sanokhali village, where his in-laws live.
According to local sources, Russell had been experiencing prolonged family disputes with his wife, Mukta Begum. On the night of 6 November, Mukta allegedly telephoned him and asked him to come to her parental home. Russell went there, but his family heard nothing from him afterwards. The couple have two children.
Concerned by his sudden disappearance, Russell’s father, Sirajul Islam, filed a general diary (GD) with Chatkhil Police Station on 7 November, the day after his son went missing.
Local residents said that Mukta Begum and members of her family left the house from the following day and had remained away. Their sudden departure reportedly drew attention as concerns grew over Russell’s whereabouts.
The mystery surrounding his disappearance took a grim turn when police visited the house late on Wednesday night, accompanied by the officer-in-charge (OC) of Chatkhil Police Station, the OC (Investigation), and Shahjahan Rana, senior joint convener of Chatkhil Upazila BNP, among others.
During the visit, a foul smell coming from an abandoned, dilapidated room raised suspicions. A search of the premises subsequently led to the discovery of Russell’s body buried inside the room. The portion of the body covered with soil had reportedly been concealed beneath old quilts and bedding.
The discovery left Russell’s family devastated. His father, Sirajul Islam, broke down while speaking about his son’s disappearance and death.
He said Mukta had called Russell on the night of 6 November and asked him to visit her family home. When his son failed to return or make contact, he became worried and lodged a GD with the police the following day.
Sirajul alleged that his son had been brutally murdered and his body buried to conceal the crime. He called for justice, demanding that Mukta Begum, whom he identified as the prime accused, and everyone else involved in the killing be brought to justice.
The incident has also prompted reactions from local BNP leaders, who described Russell as a committed party activist.
Shahjahan Rana, senior joint convener of Chatkhil Upazila BNP, said Russell had been a dedicated member of the organisation. He claimed that Russell had repeatedly faced persecution during the previous government’s tenure and had also sustained gunshot injuries.
On behalf of the Chatkhil Upazila BNP and its affiliated and associate organisations, Rana called for the swift identification and arrest of those responsible for the killing. He also demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
Chatkhil Police Station OC Abdul Monnaff said officers had examined the crime scene and assessed surrounding circumstances before locating the buried body.
Police recovered the remains and completed the initial inquest before sending the body for a post-mortem examination. The medical examination is expected to help establish further details about the circumstances of Russell’s death.
The OC also said the accused had been absconding since the incident. Police are preparing to file a murder case in connection with the death.
The recovery of Russell’s body from an abandoned room at his in-laws’ residence has shocked residents of the area. His disappearance, the reported departure of his wife and her family, and the subsequent discovery of his buried body have become central aspects of the investigation.
While Russell’s family has accused his wife and others of involvement in the killing, the allegations have yet to be established through a police investigation or judicial proceedings. The authorities will now need to determine the exact circumstances of his death, identify those responsible and establish a clear account of what happened during the five days he remained missing.
