Gazipur murder victims laid to rest in Gopalganj

Five members of a family, who were brutally murdered in Gazipur’s Kapasia upazila, were laid to rest side by side at their ancestral village in Gopalganj district on Sunday.

The victims were identified as Sharmin Akter, 30, her brother Rasul Molla, 18, and Sharmin’s three daughters Mim Akter, 14, Umme Habiba, 10 and Faria, aged one year and four months. They were buried at Uttar Charpara graveyard in Paikkandi area.

Their namaz-e-janaza was held around 11:00 AM at Paikkandi Panchapalli Madrasa ground in Gopalganj Sadar upazila.

According to locals, the bodies arrived at the village early Sunday morning in two ambulances, triggering emotional scenes as relatives and locals gathered to pay their last respects.

Witnesses said the entire area was overwhelmed with sorrow as grieving family members broke down in tears upon seeing the bodies. Sharmin’s mother Feroza Begum repeatedly lost consciousness after the arrival of the bodies of her children and grandchildren.

“My son, daughter and granddaughters have all been killed. My heart has been torn apart. What will I live for now?” she cried.

She also recalled that her youngest son Rasul had bought new clothes the previous day before leaving happily for his sister’s house in Gazipur.

“Who knew that would be his last journey?” she lamented before collapsing again in grief.

Relatives and local residents alleged that Sharmin’s husband Forkan Molla was the main suspect behind the killings and demanded exemplary punishment for all those involved.

Sharmin’s father Shahadat Molla alleged that his daughter had long suffered abuse and pressure for dowry from her husband.

“We suspect Forkan had an extramarital affair and used drugs. He killed my daughter, son and granddaughters after making them unconscious with sleeping pills. I want justice and capital punishment for everyone involved,” he said.

According to family members, Sharmin had informed her father over phone a day before the incident that she planned to leave the house permanently on May 24.

Police said a case has already been filed with Kapasia Police Station naming Forkan Molla as the prime accused along with three to four unidentified persons.

Gopalganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Mohammad Ziaul Haque said law enforcers were working to arrest the accused.

“We hope the prime suspect Forkan Molla and anyone else involved in the killings will be arrested soon,” he said.

Earlier on Saturday morning, the terrible murders came to light  after police recovered the bodies from a house in Rautkona village of Kapasia upazila in Gazipur. Authorities said all five victims had their throats slit.

AM