A 30-year-old Hindu woman was found dead in a pond in Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district on Wednesday, October 21, four days after she disappeared from her home, with her hands and feet tied to a heavy concrete-like slab and a sari wrapped around her neck.
The victim, Ratna Das, was discovered in a pond approximately 50 feet from her home in Khagalia village under Nasirnagar upazila. Her family alleged that unidentified assailants stole cash and gold jewellery from the house before killing her and dumping her body in the water.
Police confirmed the recovery and launched an investigation into the suspected killing. However, investigators have not established a motive or confirmed the family’s allegations of robbery.
Ratna was the wife of Sushil Das, a resident of the Kurerhati neighbourhood of Khagalia village in Bholakut Union. She was the daughter of Mohollal Das of Madhyapara village in Noagaon Union under neighbouring Sarail upazila.
She had a one-year-old child, while her husband worked at a hotel in Brahmanbaria district town.
Body Discovered 50 Feet From Home
Ratna disappeared from her home on the night of Saturday, October 17.
Her family searched for her but could not locate her. The following day, October 18, her husband filed a general diary (GD) with Nasirnagar Police Station reporting her disappearance.
On Wednesday afternoon, residents noticed something floating in a pond near the family’s house.
When they approached, they discovered a woman’s body partially submerged in the water, with her hands and feet bound.
They alerted police and family members, who subsequently identified the body as Ratna’s.
Nasirnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahinul Islam said the body was recovered from a pond about 50 feet from the victim’s home.
He confirmed that part of the body was floating above the water while the remainder was submerged.
A sari was wrapped around her neck, and her hands and feet were tied with rope to a heavy object resembling a cement slab.
The condition in which the body was discovered raised suspicions that she had been killed and deliberately placed in the pond.
Family Alleges Robbery Before Killing
Ratna’s relatives alleged that unidentified intruders entered the house while she was sleeping alone, stole cash and gold ornaments, and killed her.
Balram Das, a cousin of her husband, said the attackers had used rope and a heavy object to restrain Ratna before dumping her in the pond.
“Ratna used to sleep alone in her room. The criminals stole cash and gold jewellery from the house. They then tied her up with rope and stones and threw her into the pond, killing her,” he alleged.
The family believes the killing was connected to the alleged theft, although police have not independently established whether a robbery took place.
The amount of cash allegedly stolen and the value of the missing jewellery have not been disclosed.
Ratna’s maternal uncle, Binod Das, demanded a thorough investigation and punishment for those responsible.
Family members also called for the immediate identification and arrest of the perpetrators.
Police Investigate Circumstances of Death
Bholakut Union Parishad Chairman Md Rubel Mia confirmed receiving information about the recovery of the woman’s body.
Officer-in-Charge Shahinul Islam said police visited the scene after receiving information from local residents and recovered the body.
It was sent to the morgue of Brahmanbaria General Hospital for a postmortem examination.
The examination is expected to help determine the medical cause of death, including whether Ratna was already dead when her body was placed in the pond.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death, including the family’s allegations that cash and jewellery were stolen from the house.
Investigators have not publicly identified any suspects or established whether the suspected killing was motivated by robbery, a personal dispute or another cause.
No arrests or postmortem findings had been announced in the initial accounts of the investigation.
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