Staff Reporter:
Police recovered the bodies of a woman and her minor daughter buried near a pond in Ansardangi village under Sadar upazila of Faridpur on Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Jahanara Akhter, 32, wife of Amjad Sheikh of Parashullah Matubbar Para in Char Daulatdia under Goalanda upazila of Rajbari, and their four-year-old daughter Samia Akhter.
Police recovered the bodies at around 4:00pm after being informed by local residents.
According to family members, the mother and daughter had been missing since 4 May after going to attend a kulkhani, a post-funeral prayer gathering, at a relative’s house in the Char Daulatdia Haat area.
Amjad Sheikh alleged that a local brick kiln worker, Ujjal Sheikh, might have been involved in the killings. He claimed Ujjal had previously taken part in mediation over an alleged extramarital affair involving his wife.
Later on Thursday night, police from Faridpur Kotwali Police Station, with assistance from Goalanda Ghat Police Station, detained Ujjal Sheikh for questioning in connection with the incident.
Locals said farmers working in nearby fields first noticed a foul smell coming from the bank of a pond owned by Hakim Ullah near the border area between Faridpur and Rajbari districts.
As they approached the spot, they reportedly found part of a human foot protruding from the soil, while stray dogs were roaming nearby. They immediately informed the police.
Md Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Goalanda Ghat Police Station, said the bodies were recovered after police, assisted by locals, dug up the area.
He said members of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station also arrived at the scene at around 4:30pm, as the location lies close to the boundary of the two districts.
“Senior police officials from both districts visited the site. Later, with the help of local representatives and land surveyors, it was confirmed that the area falls under Faridpur district,” the OC said.
The bodies were later handed over to Faridpur Kotwali Police Station for further legal procedures.
