Tragic Murder-Suicide Claims Mother and Infant in Bagerhat

A profound sense of grief and shock has enveloped the village of Sabekdanga in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila following a harrowing murder-suicide involving a young mother and her nine-month-old son. On Friday, 23 January 2026, Kaniz Suborna Swarnali, 22, reportedly took the life of her infant, Nazim Hossain, before ending her own life.

Swarnali was the wife of Jewel Hasan Saddam, the President of the Bagerhat Sadar Upazila unit of the Chhatra League. The tragedy unfolded while Saddam remains incarcerated in Jessore Jail, having been arrested in Gopalganj following the student-led mass uprising on 5 August 2024.

The Weight of Despair

According to local residents and family sources, Swarnali had been struggling with severe clinical depression and psychological distress for several months. Her husband, to whom she was deeply devoted, faced multiple criminal charges following the political transition, and her exhaustive efforts to secure his legal release had repeatedly proven unsuccessful.

Living in a household shared with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Swarnali’s mental health reportedly deteriorated as the isolation and legal pressures mounted. On the afternoon of the incident, it is alleged that in a moment of utter desperation, she drowned her nine-month-old son in a bucket of water. Shortly thereafter, she was found dead, having taken her own life by hanging.

Incident Profile: Sabekdanga Village Tragedy

Police Investigation and Formalities

Upon receiving reports from the villagers, a team from Bagerhat Sadar Police Station arrived at the scene to recover the bodies. Md. Masum Khan, the Officer-in-Charge (OC), confirmed that both the mother and the infant were found deceased within the family residence.

"We have recovered the remains of Kaniz Suborna Swarnali and her son, Nazim Hossain," the OC stated. "The bodies have been transported to the Bagerhat District Hospital morgue for autopsies. While preliminary evidence suggests a murder followed by suicide triggered by mental health struggles, we must wait for the forensic reports to provide definitive confirmation."

A Symptom of Broader Unrest

The incident has sparked a local conversation regarding the mental health toll on families of political figures caught in the aftermath of the 2024 uprising. Community leaders have noted that while the legal system takes its course, the collateral damage to women and children in these households often goes unnoticed until a tragedy of this magnitude occurs.

The Bagerhat police have registered a case of unnatural death and are currently interviewing family members to establish a clearer timeline of Swarnali's final hours.