A four-year-old girl was found dead with her throat slit in Bangladesh’s Munshiganj district on Thursday morning, while her father, seriously injured in an attack the previous night, died in hospital hours later.
The victims were identified as Golap Hossain, 32, and his daughter, Tawba, of Ramkrishnadi village in Sirajdikhan upazila. Police suspect the attack was linked to a longstanding land dispute between two families.
The child’s body was discovered in a patch of tall grass near a brick kiln at around 9 a.m. on October 29. Golap died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Police have detained Sohrab Hossain, whose family was involved in the property dispute, for questioning and are searching for other suspects.
Father and Daughter Attacked on Their Way Home
According to police and relatives, Golap took Tawba to his paternal home in Ramkrishnadi on Wednesday afternoon.
After Isha prayers, they set out for his in-laws’ home in the same union but were intercepted near a brick kiln by a group of men allegedly associated with Sohrab.
Golap was seriously injured during the attack and became separated from his daughter. Despite his injuries, he managed to return home, while Tawba remained missing.
Relatives took Golap to Dhaka Medical College Hospital before transferring him to a private hospital in Keraniganj.
Family members searched for Tawba throughout the night. The following morning, residents discovered her body in tall grass near the brick kiln, with a fatal wound to her throat.
Golap’s condition deteriorated around 11 a.m. Thursday, prompting his transfer back to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died about two and a half hours later.
Investigators also received an account that masked men had intercepted the pair near Patharghata village after they stopped for tea at Ramkrishnadi market. The attackers allegedly assaulted Golap with sharp weapons and abducted his daughter.
Medical records reportedly mentioned physical injuries and an allegation that Golap had been forced to ingest poison, although that claim remains unverified.
Police questioned Golap at the private hospital before his death. Accounts differ over the precise timing of the attack and some details of the family’s movements.
Longstanding Land Dispute
Golap, a day labourer seeking employment abroad, was the son of Zainal Abedin of Ramkrishnadi village in Latabdi Union.
He lived with his wife and children at his in-laws’ home in Dosorpara. He had married his maternal cousin, making his maternal grandparents’ home and his in-laws’ home the same.
His maternal uncles had been involved in a prolonged property dispute with Sohrab’s family. Both sides had filed court cases, and the conflict had previously led to physical confrontations.
Golap’s mother, Hasu Begum, accused Sohrab and his associates of occupying land belonging to her brothers and repeatedly threatening and assaulting family members.
She alleged that Golap had been attacked several times over the dispute and that attempts had also been made to attack her.
Hasu Begum blamed Sohrab and his associates for killing her son and granddaughter over a small piece of land and demanded justice.
The allegations have not been established in court.
Suspect Detained, Investigation Underway
Munshiganj Additional Superintendent of Police Kamran Hasan said investigators suspected the killings were connected to the property dispute.
He said Golap had identified Sohrab and several others as attackers before his death.
Police detained Sohrab for questioning and launched operations to locate the other suspects. His response to the allegations could not be obtained while he remained in custody.
Investigators are examining the suspects’ movements and communications, previous confrontations and litigation between the families. Some people associated with the dispute had reportedly served prison terms.
Police sent Tawba’s body to Munshiganj General Hospital for an autopsy, while Golap’s body was due to undergo a postmortem examination at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Investigators are also trying to establish how Golap escaped while his daughter remained missing and what happened before her body was discovered.
Family members were reportedly preparing to file a case, while teams from Sirajdikhan Police Station and the district detective police continued searching for those involved.
Police have yet to establish a definitive motive or identify everyone responsible.
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