Nephew killed two aunts after stealing cash: DB

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) for the brutal murder of his two aunts in the capital’s Shewrapara area.

The victims were identified as Maryam Begum and Sufia Begum. The accused, Golam Rabbani Khan Taj, is the nephew of the victims.

According to DB officials, Golam Rabbani confessed to the murders after attempting to steal money from one of the victims to buy a bicycle.

At a press conference held at the DMP Media Center on Monday (May 12), DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam said, "The teenager had gone to Maryam Begum’s house after leaving home in Shonir Akhra, claiming he was going to private tuition. While there, he stole Tk 3,000 from her wallet. When Maryam confronted him and threatened to inform his mother, he attacked her with a lemon-cutting knife. Hearing Maryam’s screams, Sufia rushed in and was also attacked. The teenager then struck both women with a chisel and a shovel, killing them on the spot."

"After the attack, he cleaned himself in the bathroom and changed into his cousin’s clothes. He locked the house from the outside and left with the key," he added.

"He returned home by CNG autorickshaw, discarding the key and the red cap he had been wearing. On the way, he paid the fare using the stolen money and threw the remaining cash away due to bloodstains. He later changed clothes again in a mosque and disposed of the bloodied clothes and shoes," the official said.

The following day, the teenager travelled to Jhalakathi and visited several houses under the pretense of helping arrange burial for one of the victims.

He was arrested in Jhalakathi within 24 hours after police analyzed CCTV footage and used digital forensics to trace his movements. Based on his confession, law enforcers recovered blood-stained clothing from a sewer near Stern Shopping Center in Dhaka and a pair of shoes from a nearby abandoned building.

DB officials also revealed that the accused had recently been expelled from school. While he claimed the murder was committed to fund the purchase of a bicycle, police are investigating whether other motives or psychological factors were involved.