A man accused of killing his former wife in South Keraniganj, Dhaka, has been arrested in Chattogram’s Patenga after allegedly calling her relatives from her mobile phone and informing them about the murder.
The accused, Saiful Hawladar, 30, was arrested from the Charpara Lighterghat area under Patenga police station at around 9pm on Monday (5 October). The arrest was made during a joint operation assisted by technological tracking, according to the Special Response Battalion (SRB-10).
Saiful, son of Kalam Hawladar of Gopalpur village in Nalchity, Jhalakathi, is the sole accused in the murder case involving his former wife, Suma Akter, 24. Suma’s mother filed the case with South Keraniganj Police Station following her daughter’s death.
Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police and Assistant Director (Media) of SRB-10 Tapan Sarker confirmed the arrest at a press briefing held at the battalion’s media centre on Tuesday morning (6 October), speaking on behalf of the battalion commander.
According to the SRB, Saiful and Suma had been married for around five years. The agency said Suma had allegedly been subjected to physical and mental abuse by Saiful at different times during their marriage. Their relationship eventually ended in divorce on 9 July.
After the divorce, Suma rented a house in the Nazirbag area of South Keraniganj, where she lived and worked at a local garment factory.
The incident came to light on the night of 24 September. At around 9.30pm, Suma’s family received a call from her mobile phone. According to the SRB, Saiful made the call and told her relatives that he had killed Suma and left her body at the rented house in Nazirbag before leaving the area.
The information prompted Suma’s relatives to rush to the residence. They found her body lying inside the house and immediately informed the police.
Police later recovered the body and sent it to the mortuary of Sir Salimullah Medical College, commonly known as Mitford Hospital, in Dhaka for a post-mortem examination.
Following the incident, Saiful allegedly went into hiding. The case drew attention after the circumstances surrounding Suma’s death emerged, prompting the SRB to begin efforts to locate the accused.
Investigators subsequently used technological assistance to trace his whereabouts. The operation eventually led them to the Charpara Lighterghat area of Patenga in Chattogram, where Saiful was arrested on Monday night.
The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation into Suma’s death. Saiful has since been handed over to the relevant police station for further legal proceedings.
The allegations against him will now be examined through the investigation and judicial process. Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and assess the evidence collected in the murder case.:::
