Female restaurant worker killed after suspected rape in Jessore

Police recovered the body of a female restaurant worker who was killed after a suspected rape in Jessore’s Monihar cinema hall area on Sunday. The deceased is Chhaya Khatun, 19, who used to work at a restaurant owned by local resident Mofizur Rahman Babu. General secretary of Bangladesh Hotel, Restaurant, Sweetmeat and Bakery Workers' Union Jessore unit Taizul Islam said the victim was recruited in the restaurant as a worker three weeks ago. "There was an arrangement for accommodation in a tin-shed room on the second floor of the same building (the restaurant is housed on the ground floor) where the victim used to live with one of her fellow elderly female workers," Taizul said. "I rushed to the spot after being informed early morning on Sunday and found the victim’s body lying on the floor naked with three separate bruises in the neck.” Jessore’s Kotowali police station Sub-Inspector Monjurul Islam said he found a birth registration card from the spot and confirmed the victim’s identity. "I think she was raped before the murder," the sub-inspector added. Kotowali police station acting Officer-in-Charge AKM Azmal Huda told the Dhaka Tribune that the victim used to live with another colleague named Amena Begum on the second floor of the building. "The owner of the restaurant lives with his family on the first floor of the same building," the OC said. "We are yet to find any motive behind the murder. The restaurant owner Mofizur Rahman Babu, his wife Nasima Khatun and the victim’s roommate Amena Begum have been detained for investigation,” Azmal added.