Stepfather Rafiqul confesses to triple murder in court 

KHULNA, June 6: The prime accused in the sensational triple murder case under Sonadanga Police Station in Khulna has confessed to the killings before a court and gave a voluntary statement detailing the incident.

The accused, Rafiqul Islam Hawlader, stepfather of the two child victims, made the confessional statement before Metropolitan Magistrate Md Fariduzzaman, who recorded the deposition and later ordered his detention in jail.

Rafiqul was arrested by members of RAB-6 during a raid in the Kashipur area of Barishal on Friday morning.

According to the investigation officer of the case and Sub-Inspector of Sonadanga Police Station Animesh Mondal, the incident stemmed from a family dispute. On the night of Eid, victim Mary Begum's mother allegedly forced Rafiqul to leave the house following an argument.

Police said Rafiqul returned to the house around 7:30 am the following morning and found the main gate and room door open. When he entered the room, his mother-in-law Baby Begum allegedly began abusing him verbally.

At one stage, Rafiqul pushed her inside the room and strangled her to death with her scarf, according to the confessional statement.

Investigators said the murder was witnessed by child Shamim, prompting the accused to kill him in the same manner. Another child, Mustakim, woke up after hearing noises and saw the incident. Rafiqul then allegedly strangled him with a pajama cloth.

After the killings, he reportedly concealed Baby Begum's body under a bed, placed Shamim's body on a trunk and hid Mustakim's body inside a wardrobe drawer before locking the room and leaving.

He was produced before the court at around 2:30 pm on Saturday, where he formally confessed to the triple murder, police added.