Prime accused arrested in Narsingdi teen rape and murder case
Following the allegations, the Narsingdi Sadar upazila unit of the BNP expelled Ahmad Ali Dewan from the party’s primary membership and all posts
Police have arrested the prime accused in the reported rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Narsingdi.
The accused, Nur Mohammad alias Nura, 28, was arrested from the Maona area of Gazipur at around 9pm on Friday (27 February), said Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Madhabdi Police Station, reports Prothom Alo.
On Thursday, the girl's mother filed a case with Madhabdi Police Station naming nine people and 2-3 unidentified persons as accused in the murder.
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The named accused are Nur Mohammad alias Nura, 28; Ebadullah, 40; Hazrat Ali, 40; Md Gaffar, 37; Ahmad Ali Dewan, 65; Imran Dewan, 32; Ishaq alias Isha, 40; Abu Taher, 50; and Md Ayub, 30.
Among them, Ahmad Ali Dewan is a former member of Mahishashura Union Parishad and vice-president of the local unit of the BNP.
Police arrested five of the accused, Imran Dewan, Ebadullah, Ayub and Gaffar, including local BNP leader Ahmad Ali Dewan on Thursday night.
The victim's body was recovered on Thursday at approximately 12:30pm from a mustard field between Bilpar and Darikandi villages under Mahishashura union in Narsingdi Sadar upazila.
She used to live with her parents and brother in a rented house in the area. Her father and brother work as labourers at a local textile mill. Their ancestral home is in Barishal.
According to the case statement, the victim was abducted on Wednesday night and later killed. The family claims the murder was linked to their demand for justice over an earlier rape incident.
Quoting the case statement, police said the girl was linked with a local youth named Nura, who was allegedly associated with local goons. Fifteen days ago, Nura and five to six others allegedly abducted and raped her, according to the family's complaint.
Seeking justice, the family approached local BNP leader and former member of the union parishad, Ahmad Ali Dewan. However, they did not receive any remedy. The accused youths reportedly became enraged after the complaint was lodged.
On Wednesday night (25 February), the girl's father was taking her to her aunt's house for safety. When they reached the Bilpar area, Nura and five others allegedly forcefully took her from her father. Despite searching all night, the family could not locate her.
Yesterday, locals found her body and informed the police. Officers from Madhabdi Police Station recovered the body.
Family members alleged that Ahmad Ali Dewan, after taking responsibility to resolve the rape allegation, struck a compromise with the accused in exchange for a large sum of money and suppressed the matter instead of ensuring justice.
They further alleged that the family was pressured to leave the village. Failure to secure justice emboldened the accused, ultimately leading to the abduction and killing.
Following the allegations, the Narsingdi Sadar upazila unit of the BNP expelled Ahmad Ali Dewan from the party's primary membership and all posts.
In a notice issued on Friday night and signed by its president Abu Saleh Chowdhury and general secretary Md Iqbal Hossain, the party cited clear violations of organisational discipline.
