Dhaka, Dec 11 (V7N) – A 48-year-old woman, Laila Afroze, and her 15-year-old daughter Nafisa Lawal Binte Aziz were fatally stabbed by their housemaid, Ayesha Akter, in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area over suspicion of theft, police sources confirmed.

Ayesha, 20, was arrested on Wednesday, December 10, at 12:30 pm from Kayarchor in Dapdapia Union of Nalchiti Upazila, Jhalokathi. Her husband, Jamal Sikder Rabbik, was also taken into custody during the operation.

The double murder occurred early Monday morning on the seventh floor of a 14-story residential building on Shahjahan Road. At the time, Laila Afroze’s husband, A J M Azizul Islam, a teacher at Sunbeams School in Uttara, had gone to school, leaving his wife and daughter at home. Ayesha had joined the household as a maid four days prior to the incident.

Police investigations revealed that two days after starting work, Ayesha allegedly stole 2,000 BDT from the household. When questioned, she denied the theft, which led to repeated arguments with Laila and Nafisa. The family reportedly warned her that if the theft was proven, she would be handed over to the police. The following morning, Ayesha returned to the flat with a knife. When the household asked about the money again, she allegedly stabbed Laila multiple times and then attacked Nafisa, resulting in their deaths.

After committing the murders, Ayesha left the flat, disposed of the stolen mobile phone in a river, and traveled to Hemayetpur, Savar, where she lived with her husband and child. Police traced her to her family home in Kayarchor, Jhalokathi, where she was arrested.

Following the murders, Laila’s husband filed a murder case against Ayesha at Mohammadpur Police Station on Monday night, noting the loss of valuables, including a laptop, cash, gold jewelry, and mobile phones.

Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Ibn-e-Mizan, stated, “The housemaid committed the murders following a suspected theft. She has been brought from Jhalokathi to Dhaka, and further details will emerge after investigation.”

Local residents also reported that Ayesha, originally from Salimganj, Narsingdi, misrepresented her living arrangements to secure employment in Mohammadpur. Her husband, Rabbik, guided her to introduce herself as his wife when they visited her family home, unaware that police would arrive shortly afterward to arrest her.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the shocking nature of the crime and the involvement of a young housemaid in the brutal killings of a mother and daughter. Police continue their investigation to determine further details, including any possible accomplices.

END/AJ/SMA/