Three women were found dead in separate suspected killings within 24 hours in an industrial suburb of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, police said Thursday, raising concerns over violence against women in the area.
The bodies were recovered from different locations in Ashulia, an industrial area near Dhaka that is home to numerous garment factories. One woman was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband, while the bodies of two others were discovered in a rented apartment and on the rooftop of a building under construction.
Police detained the husband of one victim, while investigations into the other two deaths are continuing.
Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam confirmed the three incidents Thursday, Oct. 8.
The latest killing occurred around 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the Pallibidyut area of Ashulia.
Police and local sources said Akhi Akter, 24, was allegedly stabbed repeatedly by her husband, Zahid Hasan, 27, during a domestic dispute at a house owned by Haji Khalek.
Investigators suspect the attack stemmed from marital conflict and Zahid’s suspicions that his wife was having an extramarital affair.
Police recovered Akhi’s bloodied body from a bed inside the house.
Officers detained Zahid with assistance from local residents shortly after the incident.
Akhi was the daughter of Abed Ali of Ghagra Kabirajpara village in Jhenaigati, Sherpur district. Zahid is the son of Taijuddin of Sitpara village in Nalitabari, also in Sherpur.
Police said legal proceedings were underway.
In another incident, police recovered the body of Rokhsana Begum, 40, from the rooftop of a five-story building under construction in the Koltasuti Morichkata area of Shimulia Union on Wednesday night.
Rokhsana, whose husband Mokbul Hossain works in Dubai, was found with severe injuries to her neck.
Police said she had been living with her family on the third floor of the unfinished building for approximately two months.
The family had moved there from South Pakulla in Kaliakair, Gazipur district.
According to relatives, Rokhsana went to the rooftop Wednesday evening to check a water tank but did not return.
When family members went looking for her, they discovered her body lying on the rooftop. She was partially or completely unclothed and had sustained bloody injuries, according to police accounts.
Sub-Inspector Nur Amin of Ashulia Police Station, who recovered the body, said investigators found a deep wound on her neck apparently caused by a sharp weapon.
Police suspect she was killed with a sharp weapon but have not established a motive.
Investigators are examining several possibilities, including alleged extortion demands connected to construction of the building, financial disputes and personal conflicts.
Earlier Wednesday afternoon, police recovered the body of garment worker Tania Khatun from a rented apartment near Pagla Bazar in Shimulia.
Tania worked at a garment factory operated by Palmal Group and had been living alone in the rented accommodation following her divorce.
Police found her body lying on a bed inside the apartment.
Investigators reported injuries to her neck and signs suggesting she may have been strangled.
Tania was the daughter of Mizanur Rahman of Bagdanga village in Satkhira district.
Police have not identified any suspects or established a motive in her death.
Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam said the three bodies were being sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka for autopsies.
He confirmed that Akhi’s husband had been detained in connection with her killing.
Multiple police teams were working to identify those responsible for the other two suspected killings and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, he said.
The three incidents have caused concern among residents of Ashulia, where police are continuing separate investigations.
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