Family of deceased construction worker alleges murder in Rajshahi as police maintain suicide theory
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The family of 34-year-old construction worker Sabidul Islam is demanding a murder investigation after his body was discovered floating in a pond in Godagari, Rajshahi, two days after he went missing. While police have classified the incident as an unnatural death, suggesting that intoxication led to an accidental drowning, relatives contend that Sabidul was brutally tortured and killed over a minor debt.
Sabidul, a resident of Bijoynagar Colony, disappeared on the night of July 24. His mother, Abeda Begum, recounted that he had returned home the previous evening with mud on his face, claiming he had been assaulted. According to his mother, Sabidul appeared fearful for his life, telling her, “If someone kills me, please bring back my body and bury me.” His body was retrieved from a local pond on the morning of July 26.
Visual descriptions of the remains provided by family members contradict the official police narrative. Sabidul’s father, Kamal Hossain, stated that the body bore signs of severe abuse, including puncture wounds to the eyes, a severed tongue, and deep lacerations to the head. The family also noted blistered skin across the body, which they allege was caused by the application of boiling water before the body was disposed of in the water. They suspect the victim was held in a bathroom for a day before being moved to the pond to conceal the crime.
Police investigators have confirmed observing the skin blistering during the initial inquest, noting it in their report. However, Premtoli Investigation Center Inspector Maksudur Rahman maintained that the evidence points toward an accidental drowning triggered by substance abuse. Authorities identified several individuals, including a local man named Jony, who were reportedly with Sabidul at a tea stall shortly before he vanished.
Jony, the son of a local political leader, denied interacting with the victim, though he acknowledged being present at the tea stall in the company of a police officer, Sub-Inspector Jewel Abedin. When questioned, SI Abedin provided conflicting statements, initially claiming he did not know anyone present before admitting he was acquainted with Jony.
As of Saturday, no formal murder case has been filed, and investigators state they are awaiting the official autopsy report from the Rajshahi Medical College morgue to determine the cause of death. Frustrated by the lack of progress and what they perceive as police negligence, residents of the area have organized a protest rally for Sunday to demand a transparent investigation and justice for Sabidul’s death.
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