Police detectives in Bagerhat have unravelled the mystery behind the sensational triple murder of a mother, her son, and her mother in Kachua upazila, arresting three suspects in connection with the killings. Authorities revealed that the premeditated murders stemmed from a bitter dispute over an extramarital affair. Two of the suspects are close relatives of the deceased, and all three reside in the same locality.
Superintendent of Police Hassan Mohammad Naser Rikabder disclosed the details during a press briefing held at his office auditorium on Sunday, 6 September.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Zahidul Islam, a bricklayer and son of Majid Howlader; Asadul Sheikh, son of Sultan Sheikh; and Mohammad Arif Howlader, also known as Babu, son of Barik Howlader. All three hail from Kachua upazila. Detectives recovered four mobile phones belonging to the deceased victims from the suspects’ possession during the operation.
Superintendent Rikabder stated that law enforcement agencies had been working tirelessly to solve the case using information technology, local informants, and intelligence surveillance since the bodies were found. Acting on actionable intelligence, police arrested Asadul Sheikh in Chanderkhola village on Saturday night. His confession subsequently led to the arrest of Arif Howlader, while Zahidul Islam had been apprehended earlier during the preliminary investigation.
During initial questioning, all three men confessed to their direct involvement in the gruesome crime. Interrogations revealed that Zahidul Islam was involved in an extramarital relationship with a female member of the victimised family, causing severe friction within his own household. The situation escalated into heated altercations between Zahidul and one of the victims, Munira Begum. Fuelled by resentment, Zahidul devised a plan to eliminate the family members, enlisting Asadul and Arif to help execute the killings. Police added that investigations remain ongoing to determine whether any additional accomplices were involved.
The investigation follows the discovery of three decomposing bodies on the evening of 4 August inside a residence in Chanderkhola village. The victims—Ahad Howlader, his mother Munira Begum, and his maternal grandmother Rashida Begum—had been missing since the afternoon of 2 August. Following the discovery, Ahad’s elder brother, Faysal Howlader, filed a murder case against unidentified individuals at Kachua Police Station, paving the way for the detective branch to track down the perpetrators.
