4 arrested in Dhaka with 47 human skulls, bones

Police have arrested four members of a skeleton theft gang in operations conducted in Tejgaon and Uttara areas of the capital. 47 human skulls and a large quantity of bones have been recovered during the raids.

Tejgaon Thana police conducted special operations on Monday, March 9, and arrested them, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner and Spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman.

The arrested individuals are – Kazi Zahurul Islam Soumik, 25; Md Abul Kalam, 39; Asadul Munshi Jashim Ershad, 32; and Md Foysal Ahmed, 26.

Police said they are members of an organised skeleton theft gang. This gang used to steal human skeletons and bones from graveyards and sell them.

DC Talebur Rahman said detailed information about this matter will be provided at a press conference to be held at the DMP Media Centre on Tuesday.

It has been learned that the arrested Soumik is a final-year student of Sapporo Dental College and Hospital in Uttara. Foysal had completed his final examinations from the same college and was awaiting to become an intern doctor.

Tejgaon Thana police said on Monday afternoon, based on secret information about the location of a member involved in stealing skeletons from a graveyard in Tejgaon's Manipuripara area, an operation was conducted. Soumik was detained during the operation and one human skeleton was recovered from him. Later, based on information obtained from interrogating him, Abul Kalam and Munshi Jashim Ershad were detained from in front of Tejgaon College. Two human skeletons were also recovered from them. Subsequently, based on information provided by the detained individuals, the gang's mastermind Foysal Ahmed was arrested from a house in Uttara Sector-9.

Police further informed that another 44 human skulls and illegally collected various parts of human skeletons were recovered from that house.