Hijra community leader Moushumi found strangled in Chattogram home

Police have recovered the body of a leader of the hijra community from a house in Chattogram city. The deceased was Mohammad Mohsin, also known as Moushumi Hijra (52), who was known as 'Guruma' among a section of the hijra community in Chattogram. Police suspect she was strangled to death.

The body was recovered around 10:30am on Saturday, September 5, from a house in the Hijra Colony adjacent to the Ambagan Railway Colony under Khulshi Police Station. Injury marks were found on her neck. Police said cash and two mobile phones belonging to her were missing from the house.

According to police and local hijra community members, Moushumi lived alone in that house. She chatted with neighbours until about 2am on Friday night before going to her room to sleep. Residents of the adjacent room heard the sound of an argument from her room late at night but did not pay much attention, thinking she was talking to someone familiar.

When Moushumi did not wake up by 10am, neighbours went to call her and found the door open. She was lying on the bed in her bedroom with blood coming from her mouth. Police were informed.

Khulshi Police Station Sub-Inspector Golam Mohammad Nasim said the body was recovered around 10:30am. Injury marks were found on her neck. Preliminary investigation suggests it is a murder case, though the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the autopsy report.

Moushumi had a cattle farm behind her house. Police said a cow was sold on Friday, and the money was with Moushumi. Another cow was scheduled to be sold on Saturday morning, but the money and two mobile phones were missing after the incident.

Members of the hijra community gathered at the scene from various parts of the city after news of her death spread. They protested, demanding identification and swift justice for those involved in the killing. Several local hijra individuals claimed Moushumi was killed in a planned manner.

Hijra Paki Rahman said, "Around 10am, I entered the house and saw blood coming from her mouth, with her tongue out. I called out to everyone nearby and informed police. She was strangled. Those who killed her must be brought to justice quickly."

Khulshi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rahim said Moushumi was a leader of the hijra community. The case is being investigated seriously. The body has been sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.