Feni man arrested for murder of housewife during failed robbery attempt

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RAB officials in Feni have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was found bound and gagged in her home earlier this weekend. The suspect, identified as Md. Ariful Islam, a local autorickshaw driver, allegedly confessed to killing 35-year-old Kulsum Kajol during a botched robbery attempt driven by mounting financial pressure.

The incident occurred in the South Talbaria village of Phulgazi, where the victim had been living with her youngest child while her husband worked abroad in Kuwait. According to an official press briefing held by RAB-7 at their Feni office, Ariful entered the home late Friday night by cutting through the tin roof, intending to steal valuables to pay off a 15,000-taka monthly loan installment.

Investigators stated that the victim awoke during the intrusion and struggled with the assailant. During the confrontation, Ariful bound the woman’s hands and feet, applied adhesive tape to her mouth, and struck her in the head. He fled the scene believing she was dead. A key breakthrough in the investigation came when detectives noticed distinct scratch marks under the suspect’s nose—injuries sustained when the victim fought back during the fatal struggle.

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The crime was discovered Saturday morning when the victim’s brother-in-law, Ismail Hossain, heard muffled sounds coming from the house while heading to morning prayers. Upon finding the doors locked, he and neighbors climbed onto an adjacent rooftop and observed the damaged roof, leading them to discover the woman’s body inside.

Following a murder case filed by the victim’s father, the Rapid Action Battalion initiated a shadow investigation. After questioning several suspects, officials identified Ariful, whose physical injuries matched the evidence recovered from the crime scene. Squadron Leader Md. Mizanur Rahman, commander of the RAB-7 Feni camp, confirmed that the suspect has been transferred to Phulgazi police station for further legal proceedings, as authorities continue to investigate whether any other factors motivated the attack.