Woman, granddaughter killed in Pabna, locals suspect the teen was raped before murder

A 65-year-old woman and her teenage granddaughter were found murdered in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila today (28 February), with local residents and relatives suspecting the girl was raped before being killed.

The incident took place at some point during the early hours of today in Bhabanipur Uttarpara village of Dashuria union.

The deceased were identified as Sufia Khatun, 65, wife of Najimuddin, and her granddaughter Jamila Akter, 15.

Confirming the incident, Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mominuzzaman said police recovered the two bodies in the morning.

He said the motive behind the killings is being investigated.

"It is suspected that the grandmother was killed for resisting the abduction of her teenage granddaughter. The attackers then took the girl to a remote area where she was raped and strangled. Since her body was found unclothed, we are prioritising the investigation into potential sexual assault," said the OC, reports Prothom Alo

According to family members and locals, neighbours came out of their homes after hearing cries in the middle of the night. However, when the noise stopped shortly afterwards, they returned to their houses.

In the morning, Sufia Khatun's bloodied body was found lying in the courtyard of the house. Police were then informed.

At that time, Jamila was not found at the house. Later, her body was recovered from a nearby mustard field. Police said she was found without clothes.

Relatives and locals alleged that Jamila had been abducted and raped before being killed, and that her body was left in the field.

Preparations were underway to send the bodies to the Pabna General Hospital morgue for autopsy, and legal proceedings are in progress.