The family of a schoolgirl found dead in South Banasree has alleged that she was murdered in a planned attack for money and gold, with suspicion falling on an employee of their family-run hotel.
The victim, Fatema Akhter Lily, 17, a Class 10 student of Radiant School, was found with her throat slit at her home in L Block of South Banasree on Saturday afternoon. Her father, Sajib Talukder, has filed a murder case with Khilgaon Police Station, naming hotel employee Milan as the accused. Milan has been absconding since the incident.
On Sunday morning, local residents were seen gathering in front of the tin-shed house, located beside Avenue Road, opposite Shahjalal Hotel, which is owned by the victim’s family.
According to family members, Milan allegedly took advantage of the house being largely empty and killed Lily in order to loot cash and gold ornaments. They claim around five bhori of gold jewellery and about Tk5 lakh in cash were stolen after the murder.
Sajib Talukder said he had closed the hotel and gone to his village home in Lakhai upazila of Habiganj with other family members due to personal reasons, leaving his two daughters at the house. As the hotel was closed, he had asked Milan to collect food from the house.
He said he received news of his daughter’s death at around 3pm on Saturday.
Talukder added that Milan had rejoined the hotel about one and a half to two months ago, having worked there previously for three to four years, and was therefore known to the family. Milan’s home is in the Khulna region.
The victim’s elder sister, Shobha, said that on Friday night, when Milan came to collect food at around 11pm, Lily did not open the door as it was late and passed the food to him from inside. Milan reportedly returned again on Saturday afternoon.
“When I left the house, Milan also left. But later he came back again,” she said.
Shobha said that upon returning home after receiving the news, she found Lily lying inside the house with her throat slit.
She alleged that Milan first tied a rope around Lily’s neck and took her to the kitchen, where he later attacked her with a sharp object, killing her. She also claimed that he took Lily’s mobile phone after the murder.
Khilgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam said the victim’s father had filed a murder case naming one accused. “Police are conducting drives to arrest the accused,” he said.
A police source said the hotel had been doing good business and that the absence of other family members may have created an opportunity for the crime. “Once the accused is arrested, interrogation will reveal whether there were any other motives behind the killing,” the source added.
Police recovered the body of Fatema Akhter Lily from the house in South Banasree on Saturday afternoon.