Six bodies recovered in 10 days, raising concern across Jamalpur
Photo: Agamir Somoy
The recovery of six bodies from separate locations in Jamalpur within a span of 10 days has raised concern among local residents. The bodies were recovered from different locations in Jamalpur city and Madarganj upazila between August 23 and September 1.
The deceased include two housewives, a college student, a teenage girl, a scrap metal trader and a nurse. Questions have arisen over the incidents as the causes of several deaths have yet to be confirmed. Police said each incident is being investigated seriously.
On August 23, the body of a housewife named Ishrat Jahan Mimi (30), was recovered from an apartment in the Shekher Bhita rail crossing area of Jamalpur city. Her two young children were trapped inside the apartment. Local residents became suspicious after the children cried for water through a window. They later broke down the door and rescued the two children. Ishrat's body was found in one of the rooms. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested her husband in connection with the incident.
On August 27, the body of scrap metal trader Samiul Islam alias Fakir Ali (45), was recovered from a shop in the Purba Para area of Madarganj upazila. He lived at the shop. As the shop remained closed throughout the day, family members broke the lock and entered, where they found his body.
On the morning of August 28, police recovered the body of a teenage girl named Rupsi Akter, 16, from an irrigation pump house in Charpakerdah Union of Madarganj. Rupsi had been missing since the previous night.
That same night, the hanging body of Israt Jahan Rima (25), a student of the English Department at Government Ashek Mahmud College, was recovered from a rented house in South Kacharipara of Jamalpur municipal area.
According to family sources, she had been under mental stress over a personal relationship and family complications. However, the actual cause of her death remains under investigation.
On the morning of August 29, the hanging body of a housewife named Sharmin Akter (26), was recovered from a rented house near Nandina Railway Station. Police are also investigating this incident.
Most recently, at noon on September 1, the body of a nurse named Roksana Akter Shila (35), was recovered from a residential house in the Chalapara area of Jamalpur municipal city. The door of the house was locked from inside. Police later broke down the door and recovered her body.
Four of the six deceased were women. Several incidents occurred in rented houses and residential areas. This has increased concern among local residents about the safety of women and students.
Abdul Gani Moral, a businessman from the Bakultala area, said, "The recovery of so many bodies within such a short period is truly concerning. The deaths of women and young girls in particular have affected people deeply. We want the actual mystery behind each incident to be uncovered and those responsible to be brought under the law quickly."
Jahangir Selim, a concerned citizen of the district, said, "The recovery of six bodies in 10 days is by no means normal. Each incident needs to be investigated impartially. At the same time, security measures in residential areas of the city must be strengthened and the collection of tenant information must be ensured."
Jamalpur Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Yahia Al Mamun said, "After each incident, we conduct a proper investigation and present information before the court along with expert opinions. In addition, we conduct beat policing activities in every neighborhood to increase social awareness."
Police said all six incidents are being investigated separately. It has not yet been confirmed whether there is any connection between the deaths. The actual cause of each death will be known after the investigations are completed.
