Police recovered the bodies of a woman and her four-year-old daughter buried beside a pond in Ansardangi village under Faridpur sadar on Thursday afternoon.
The deceased were identified as Jahanara Akhter, 32, wife of Amjad Sheikh of Parashullah Matubbar Para in Char Daulatdia of Goalanda upazila in Rajbari, and their daughter Samia Akhter.
Police recovered the bodies around 4pm after locals informed them about a foul smell coming from the area.
According to family members, the mother and daughter had been missing since 4 May after going to attend a Kulkhani at a relative’s house in the Char Daulatdia Haat area.
Jahanara’s husband Amjad Sheikh alleged that local brick kiln worker Ujjal Sheikh might be involved in the killings. He claimed Ujjal was previously involved in a local mediation over an alleged extramarital affair involving his wife.
Faridpur Kotwali Police, with assistance from Goalanda Ghat Police Station, later took Ujjal Sheikh into custody for questioning. Locals said farmers working near the pond first noticed the smell from the bank of a pond owned by Hakim Ullah in an area bordering Rajbari and Faridpur districts.
When they approached the spot, they saw part of a human foot protruding from the soil while stray dogs were roaming nearby. They then informed Goalanda Ghat Police Station.
Goalanda Ghat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shafiqul Islam said police recovered the bodies by digging the soil with help from locals. He said police from Faridpur Kotwali Police Station also reached the scene as the area lies close to the boundary of the two districts.
“Senior police officials from both districts visited the scene. Later, with the help of local representatives and land surveyors, it was confirmed that the area falls under Faridpur district,” he said.
The bodies were later handed over to Faridpur Kotwali Police Station for further legal procedures, the OC added.
