Female physician found strangled inside Dhaka home

A female physician was found strangled inside her residence in the capital's Dakshinkhan area.

The incident reportedly took place on Thursday afternoon (July 30), in what police suspect was a robbery-turned-murder.

The deceased, Sara Roksana Pinu, was found dead inside her apartment in the Jamtala Lane area of Faydabad after intruders allegedly cut through the window grille to gain entry.

According to police and relatives, the attackers entered the second-floor apartment while Pinu was alone at home. Investigators believe she was suffocated with a pillow before the assailants fled with cash and gold jewelry.

Her son said he discovered his mother lying dead on the floor of the guest room after returning home.

"The intruders cut through the window grille to enter the apartment. They took all of my mother's gold jewelry and cash," he said, adding that several household items remained scattered inside the residence.

Police instructed the family not to disturb the scene until forensic evidence had been collected.

Investigators said Pinu's husband was at work at the time of the incident after dropping their daughter off at school earlier in the day. Pinu routinely picked up the child after classes, but when she failed to arrive, the girl waited before returning home.

Finding the apartment in an unusual condition, the child went back to school and informed a teacher, who then contacted her father.

Mirza Tarek Ahmed Beg, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Uttara Division, said investigators believe the suspects entered the apartment after 3:00pm, strangled the victim and escaped with valuables.

Police recovered the body at around 4:30pm and launched a forensic examination of the crime scene.

Sub-Inspector Habib of Dakshinkhan Police Station said evidence had been collected and an investigation was underway to determine the motive and identify those responsible.

Pinu was the daughter of Mojibul Haque Bacchu, a teacher from Bhuiya Bari in Jalalpur Union under Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj district. She is survived by her husband, two sons and a daughter.

Police have not yet announced any arrests.