Man held over rape and murder of niece in Munshiganj

A man has been arrested for allegedly raping and strangling his 10-year-old step-niece to death at Sirajdikhan upazila in Munshiganj district on Saturday.

The arrested was identified as Raja Mia, 35, from Morrelganj Police Station jurisdiction in Khulna district. 

The deceased child was the daughter of Anwar Hossain, a Qatar expatriate.

According to family members, they found the young girl's body on a bed inside their house around 3:00 PM on Saturday and immediately informed the police. 

A team from Sirajdikhan Police Station recovered the body at around 4:00 PM and detained Raja Mia from the spot for his suspected involvement.

Sirajdikhan Police Station Sub-Inspector Md. Shah Ali and local Union Parishad female member Saleha Begum stated that preliminary evidence strongly indicates the child was raped before being murdered.

Sirajdikhan Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Abdul Hannan confirmed that primary investigations point toward rape followed by strangulation. 

The step-uncle remains in custody and the victim's body has been sent to Munshiganj Sadar Hospital for an autopsy, the OC added.

NU/TZ