Restaurant worker arrested over schoolgirl killing in Banasree

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested a restaurant worker in connection with the killing of a schoolgirl in the capital's Banasree.

Accoridng to RAB, a suspect identified as Milon was detained over the murder of Fatema Akter, whose throat was slit inside her family’s apartment in the city’s South Banasree area. The arrest was made based on closed-circuit television footage and evidence that the suspect went into hiding after the incident.

RAB confirmed the arrest in a brief statement issued on Monday morning (January 12).

The body of Fatema, a 10th-grade student at Radiant School and College, was recovered on Saturday afternoon from an apartment known as Pritom Villa in South Banasree’s Block L after police responded to an emergency call made to the national hotline 999.

Police said CCTV footage showed Milon entering the apartment around the time of the killing. Investigators suspect the murder took place during an attempted robbery, when the victim resisted and was fatally attacked.

Fatema lived in the apartment with her parents and siblings. Her family hails from Lakhai upazila in northeastern Habiganj district. Her father, Sajib Mia, operates a restaurant in the Banasree area, where the suspect was employed.

Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khilgaon Police Station, said, "A case has been filed against unidentified suspects."

"An autopsy has been completed and forensic examinations are under way to determine whether there was any sexual assault," he added.