Mongla, Oct 15 (V7N) – Police have arrested two men accused of abducting, raping and murdering a 39-year-old woman in Mongla, Bagerhat, nearly two months after her body was recovered from a river in Khulna.

The accused, Ikramul Sheikh, 40, and Mir Ali, 48, were arrested on Tuesday afternoon from Dakop in Khulna and Mongla, respectively. They were sent to jail through a Bagerhat court on Wednesday afternoon.

At a press briefing at Mongla Police Station around 1pm on Wednesday, Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Refatul Islam of Mongla Circle said the investigation had uncovered details of the alleged crime through intelligence operations and evidence collected during the investigation.

According to police, on August 14, the two men lured Asma Begum from an area near the Mongla ferry terminal and took her to Katakhali village in Banishanta Union of Dakop upazila, Khulna.

Police said Ikramul took the woman to his house, where no other family members were present. The two men allegedly raped her throughout the night.

The following morning, an argument reportedly broke out over a trivial matter, during which the woman was allegedly killed.

Six days later, on August 20, river police recovered her body from the Kajibacha River in Batiaghata upazila of Khulna.

Police said they identified leads through the woman’s jewellery, clothing and mobile phone and subsequently intensified intelligence operations to identify those responsible and establish the circumstances of her death.

Following the investigation, police arrested Ikramul from Dakop and Mir Ali from Mongla on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the police, the two men confessed to the rape and murder during questioning. The allegations and reported confessions remain subject to the judicial process.

Ikramul Sheikh is the son of the late Nurul Sheikh of Laudob area in Dakop upazila. Mir Ali, a tenant in the Charabari area of Mongla, is the son of the late Mozzafar Howlader of Delutia village in Nalchity upazila of Jhalokathi.

Mongla Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Atikur Rahman, Investigation Officer Manik Chandra Gain and Sub-Inspector Md Hanif were present at the press briefing.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Refatul Islam said Mongla police were continuing their efforts to prevent crime, investigate offences professionally and ensure justice through due legal process.

END/AHS/SMA/