Police in Natore have launched an investigation following the unexplained death of a 16-year-old residential student inside a local madrasa in the Gurudaspur upazila of the district.

The deceased, identified as Khadija Khatun, was a student at the Hazrat Rabeya Bosri (R.) Mohila Hafezia Madrasa, located in the Shampur Wapda Bazar area under Nazirpur Union. Khadija, who hailed from Shalika village in Singra upazila, was the daughter of the late Khalil Uddin and had been residing at the institution to memorise the Quran.

The incident occurred at around 12:30 pm on Tuesday, 15 September. According to eyewitnesses and hospital authorities, Khadija was brought to the Emergency Department of Natore Modern Sadar Hospital by her mother and uncle during the early afternoon. The attending physician pronounced the teenager dead upon arrival. As news of the sudden death spread by Tuesday evening, tension escalated throughout the locality, prompting swift intervention from both Gurudaspur police and the Natore District Detective Branch (DB).

Uncertainty surrounds the exact cause of Khadija’s death. Witnesses reported conflicting accounts given by the family during her transfer to the hospital; her mother initially claimed the teenager fell and sustained injuries in the madrasa washroom, whilst alternative statements suggested electrocution. Relatives created a brief disturbance outside the hospital premises in an attempt to block an autopsy.

In the aftermath of the event, officers from the District Detective Branch detained the madrasa superintendent, Sulaiman Sardar (38), alongside his wife, Madina Khatun, who serves as a teacher at the same institution. Both individuals were taken into custody from Shampur village on Tuesday evening for questioning.

Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of the District Detective Branch, confirmed visiting the scene and noted that no visible physical injury marks were found on the body. Investigators are interrogating the detained couple to ascertain the exact circumstances leading up to the tragedy.

Local authorities have expressed deep concern over the event. Aiyub Ali, Chairman of the Nazirpur Union Council, stated that serious doubts remain regarding whether the fatality was an accident or foul play, calling for a thorough and impartial inquiry.

Officer-in-Charge of Gurudaspur Police Station, Md. Abdul Hannan, confirmed that despite reluctance from the family, law enforcement officers recovered the body, completed an inquest report, and sent the remains to the hospital morgue for a detailed post-mortem examination. Further legal action will be determined once the autopsy results are released.