4 arrested over murder of private tutor, body found in sacks

Police in Chapainawabganj have uncovered the mystery behind the killing of a private tutor whose body was found stuffed inside sacks in the Namoshankarbati Chowkapara area of the municipality.

Four people, including the parents of one of the victim’s students, have been arrested in connection with the murder and alleged attempt to conceal the body.

Police also recovered a wooden baton believed to have been used in the killing, a pair of earrings belonging to the victim and some cash.

The information was confirmed in a press release sent to the media by Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Wasim Firoz on Thursday (May 21).

The arrested individuals were identified as Sumaiya Akter Sumi, 28, her husband Rubel Hossain, 35, father-in-law Anwar Hossain, 55, and Dipak Saha, 35, a gold trader from Rajarampur Masterpara.

According to police, Sumaiya Akter Sumi and Dipak Saha gave confessional statements before a senior judicial magistrate court under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Police said the victim, Mariam Begum, had been tutoring Sumi’s daughter for the past five years.

Mariam reportedly went to Sumi’s house and asked for a loan to buy a laptop for her son n May 18. When Sumi said she could not provide the money, Mariam allegedly asked her to sell a pair of earrings and bring the proceeds.

Police said Sumi sold the earrings to Dipak Saha for Tk 12,000 and spent Tk 5,000 for personal purposes.

Later that afternoon, Mariam returned to demand the money, leading to an argument between the two women. During the altercation, Sumi allegedly struck Mariam on the head and body with a wooden baton, leaving her seriously injured.

When the victim tried to scream, Sumi allegedly smothered her to death by covering her mouth.

According to investigators, Sumi initially wrapped the body in rexine and hid it under a bed before later placing it inside two jute sacks and covering it with old clothes beside a firewood storage room.

Police said Sumi informed her husband and father-in-law about the incident later that night.

Additional SP Wasim Firoz said police recovered the body early Tuesday after receiving information through the national emergency service 999 from local residents.

The body, which bore multiple injury marks, was sent to Chapainawabganj Modern Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Following a case filed by the victim’s family against unidentified persons, police arrested the suspects using technology and information from local sources, he added.