Police recovered the body of a six-year-old girl from a paddy field in Gomostapur upazila of Chapainawabganj on Sunday.
She had been missing for two days. Police also detained her brother-in-law in connection with the incident.
The deceased was identified as Sharifa Khatun, daughter of Shahidul Islam of Jogibari village under Bangabari union in the upazila. She was a student of Bangabari Noorani Madrasa.
Police recovered her body in the afternoon from a paddy field in an area adjacent to Makrampur village under Alinagar union.
In connection with the incident, police detained Antar, son of Ibrahim Ali of Lalapur village under Boalia union of the same upazila. He works as a construction labourer.
According to police and locals, Sharifa went to her aunt’s house in Makrampur village with her grandfather Abdul Karim and other family members on Friday. She went missing from there in the afternoon. When the family failed to locate her after searching, her grandfather filed a general diary with Gomastapur Police Station. Police then launched an investigation.
Investigating officer Sub-Inspector Abdul Awal said Antar, the husband of Sharifa’s elder sister, had also visited the house for a family gathering. During questioning, he made inconsistent statements and later confessed to the killing.
Officer-in-Charge of Gomastapur Police Station Nur-e Alam said police recovered the body on Sunday afternoon based on information provided by Antar.
He said Antar first struck Sharifa on the head in the field on Friday afternoon and later strangled her using her clothing.
“Antar had recently demanded Tk1 lakh from his father-in-law. He was upset after not receiving the money. He also said he committed the murder hoping to secure a larger share of his father-in-law’s property,” the OC said.
He added that legal action is being taken in this regard.
