Saudi expat's body found in pieces in Mugda; murder linked to extramarital affair: RAB

A dismembered body recovered from a plastic-wrapped sack in Mugda, Dhaka, has been identified as that of a Saudi expatriate, with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) saying he was killed by his alleged extramarital partner, her friend and her teenage daughter over a dispute involving money and relationships.

The deceased has been identified as 37-year-old Mokarram Mia, a Saudi expatriate from Brahmanbaria, according to officials.

Following the recovery of the body parts from Manda area in Mugda, RAB-3 conducted a raid on Sunday night around 11:45pm and arrested Helena Begum, 40, and her 13-year-old daughter Halima Akter, both residents of Nandaramapur village in Narsingdi Sadar upazila. Another woman, Taslima Akter alias Hasna, 31, has also been identified and is being pursued, RAB said.

RAB officials said the killing stemmed from an extramarital relationship and financial disputes involving Mokarram and Taslima.

According to RAB-3 media officer Md Mehedi Imran Siddiqui, Mokarram developed a relationship with Taslima, who was the wife of his acquaintance during his stay abroad. Over time, the relationship turned into an alleged affair, and he reportedly sent her more than Tk5 lakh while working in Saudi Arabia.

The incident took place after Mokarram returned to Bangladesh on 13 May without informing his family and visited Helena's rented house in Mugda to meet Taslima.

RAB said tensions escalated that night over a proposed marriage, repayment of money, and threats involving private photos and videos.

Officials said the victim allegedly demanded repayment of the money he had sent and threatened to circulate compromising material on social media, further escalating the dispute.

RAB also alleged that Mokarram attempted inappropriate conduct involving Helena's minor daughter during the night, which intensified the conflict among the accused.

On the following morning, the accused allegedly sedated him by mixing sleeping pills in his breakfast and later strangled him with a pillow. When he resisted, he was attacked with sharp weapons and a hammer, leading to his death.

RAB said the body was then dismembered into eight parts in a bathroom, with seven parts dumped in a plastic sack near the house and the head disposed of about one kilometre away. The head was later recovered based on information provided by the arrestees.

After the killing, the accused allegedly cleaned the scene, went out for food and shopping, and even hosted a small gathering at the house, RAB added.

They left the residence on 16 May, while foul smell from the discarded body parts later led locals to alert police. The body was recovered and sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue, where identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis.

RAB said legal proceedings are underway against the arrested suspects, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accused.