A Class VII student’s dream of making videos for social media ended in a brutal murder in Cumilla, exposing a troubling web of teenage vulnerability, risky friendships, social media influence and alleged gaps in preventing youth crime.
Ishayat Shahriar Apratim, who left home carrying his mother’s iPhone to take photographs with friends, was found dead the following day at the foothills of Lalmai hills. Police said he was killed while his phone was being snatched.
Beyond the murder investigation, the case has raised deeper questions: How did a schoolboy become close to much older teenagers allegedly involved in crime? Did his family have any warning signs? And could earlier intervention have prevented the tragedy?
Apratim’s TikTok account shows that he had been creating videos for social media for a long time. Despite being underage, he also used to ride a motorcycle.
His mother Nahida Begum said her son was friendly with people of different ages in the neighbourhood, but the family was unaware of any specific association with Tuhin or others now accused in the case.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman said Apratim had been closely associated with the suspects, who were five to 10 years older than him.
“There was a relationship, interaction and friendship between them,” Salahuddin said while talking to journalists in Dhaka on Sunday, describing the incident as a reflection of wider social decline.
Last Friday afternoon, Apratim left his home in Kotbari carrying his mother’s iPhone, telling family members he was going out to take photographs with friends.
He never returned.
His family waited hours before filing a general diary with police around midnight, nine hours after he went missing. His phone was traced and recovered more than 11 hours later.
The delay has raised questions over whether faster action could have changed the outcome.
Police recovered Apratim’s body around 11am the following day from a forest near Dakshin Mor at the foothills of Lalmai hills. He had injury marks on his head.
At his funeral, his father KM Firoz Shahriar struggled to describe the pain of losing his child.
“Now I understand how painful it is for a father to carry his child’s body on his shoulder. I pray that no one else has to lose a child like I have,” he said.
The location where Apratim’s body was found has added another layer of concern.
Residents said isolated parts of Lalmai hills and surrounding areas have increasingly become places where criminals carry out crimes, including snatching, drug trading, extortion and other offences.
Locals alleged that complaints about teenage gangs and criminal activities were repeatedly made to Sadar South Police Station, but effective action was not taken.
Several residents said they had witnessed crimes but avoided speaking out due to fear of retaliation.
Once considered a safe recreational destination, some parts of Lalmai hills have become risky after evening, according to locals.
The area has also witnessed previous incidents. On 3 February 2025, police recovered the throat-slit body of a child named Rifat Hossain from Chandimura. On 29 August this year, allegations emerged that a Class X student was held overnight and gang-raped at Shantir Mor.
Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman said police acted promptly after receiving the complaint.
“We traced the phone and gave importance to CCTV footage. Alongside intelligence monitoring and local information, we detained Tuhin. Later, based on his information, we detained the others,” he said.
Police first detained 19-year-old Saiful Islam Tuhin after analysing CCTV footage. Later, two 15-year-old students of Mainamati Technical School and College were detained.
Police also questioned Mohammad Siam, a Class XII student of Abdal Khan Degree College.
The police superintendent said the suspects took Apratim towards a secluded forest area in Shalban between 5pm and 6pm on Friday.
He said the suspects tried to snatch Apratim’s iPhone, and when he resisted, a scuffle broke out.
“Initially, Tuhin and later the two teenagers accompanying him repeatedly hit Apratim on the head with a strong bamboo stick. At one stage, the three confirmed Apratim’s death. Tuhin then took the iPhone and fled with the others,” he said.
Apratim’s death has triggered national outrage, but the investigation has also opened a wider debate over teenage supervision, online influence, unsafe friendships and the growing presence of youth gangs.
The question now is not only who killed Apratim, but also how a young boy was drawn into a circle where such a tragedy could happen.
