Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Tejgaon unit has arrested four members of a human skeleton theft syndicate, recovering 47 human skulls and a large quantity of bones, officials said on Tuesday.
The arrested suspects are Kazi Zaharul Islam, alias Soumik, 25, Md Abul Kalam, 39, Asadul Munsi, alias Jasim or Ershad, 32, and Md Faisal Ahmed, 26. Police recovered the skulls and bones from plastic bags in their possession.
DMP Deputy Commissioner, Media and Public Relations, Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the arrests.
A Tejgaon police source said the operation began after intelligence revealed that a man was collecting human remains from local graveyards in Monipuripara with the intent to sell them illegally.
Acting on the tip, police raided the area at around 1:45am on 9 March and arrested Soumik, recovering one skeleton.
Following his confession, police launched another raid near Tejgaon College at 7:10am, detaining Abul Kalam and Asadul Munsi and seizing two additional skeletons. Based on further information, officers later raided a hostel of Sapporo Dental College & Hospital in Uttara West at 3:30pm and arrested Faisal Ahmed.
Police recovered 44 more skeletons scattered in room 402.
Initial interrogation revealed that the syndicate had been stealing human remains from various graveyards across the country, including Gazipur, and selling them at high prices.
Tejgaon police have filed a case against the four suspects.
Abul Kalam faces 21 previous cases in different police stations, while Asadul Munsi has two prior cases. Authorities are taking legal action against all arrested individuals.
