DHAKA — Police have recovered the severed head and two hands of an unidentified woman from beneath a culvert in Dhaka’s Sabujbagh area, launching a murder investigation and a search for the rest of her body.
The remains were discovered Thursday morning, August 6, near the Baganbari culvert in the Madartek area of Sabujbagh. Police suspect the woman was killed two to three days earlier and her body was subsequently dismembered, possibly to conceal the killing.
The victim remained unidentified as of the latest police update. Investigators are trying to establish her identity through fingerprints and distinctive physical characteristics while searching the surrounding area for the missing parts of her body.
Sabujbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said police went to the scene after receiving information about human remains beneath the culvert.
“After receiving the information, police went to the scene and recovered the dismembered body parts,” Islam told reporters on Thursday. “From the head and two hands recovered, we believe the victim is a woman. The remaining parts of the body have not yet been found.”
Police Believe Woman Was Killed Days Earlier
The condition of the recovered remains led investigators to believe the killing occurred several days before their discovery.
“The body parts had begun to decompose, so we initially believe the killing took place two to three days ago,” Islam said. “Police are making every effort to identify the woman and uncover the mystery surrounding the incident.”
Police said the assessment was preliminary and that forensic examination would be required to establish the precise time and cause of death.
Investigators initially believe the woman was killed before her body was cut into pieces with a sharp weapon. They are also examining whether the remains were dumped at different locations in an attempt to conceal the crime.
No suspect has been publicly identified, and police have not disclosed any possible motive.
Tattoo, Dyed Hair and Earrings May Help Identification
Police are examining several distinctive features that could help identify the victim.
The woman appeared to be relatively young and had golden or light-colored dyed hair. A tattoo was visible on one of her hands, while earrings were found on the recovered head.
Police said specialists would collect fingerprints from the hands in an effort to establish her identity.
Investigators hope the physical characteristics and fingerprint analysis will help determine who the woman was and provide leads in the murder investigation.
Search Continues for Rest of Body
Police have launched a search in and around the Baganbari area for the remaining parts of the woman’s body.
Recovering them could help investigators establish the cause and circumstances of her death and obtain further forensic evidence.
Police are also expected to examine the area for other evidence and determine whether surveillance cameras at nearby homes, streets or businesses captured suspicious activity around the time the remains were dumped.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any relevant CCTV footage has been recovered.
The investigation remains focused on identifying the victim, locating the rest of her body and determining who was responsible for the killing.
