Police recovered the body of an advocate, also daughter of a former diplomat and journalist, yesterday in her flat at Rampura in the capital.
The victim was identified as Fahmida Akther Bithun, 47, an advocate at the High Court and daughter of Late Aktarul Alam, former advisory editor of the Daily Ittefaq and former ambassador to Bahrain.
“Police recovered Fahmida’s body around 11am inside her flat in House no D-105 at Rampura City Project. The body was lying face down, her hands and feet tied, a shawl wrapped around her neck, and remnants of chilli powder on her face,” said Mahbubur Rahman Tarafdar, OC at Rampura police station.
Fahmida lived in the flat alone, moving there five years ago, as her husband Golam Rabbani lives in Bahrain, employed at a British company, and their son Siratul Mostakim lives in the US for studies, her mother Monowara Begum told the Dhaka Tribune.
Rampura police OC Mahbub said police suspected she was strangulated to death, at it had likely happened nearly 24 to 36 hours before the body was found. The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem.
The body was first found by Fahmida’s housemaid Sabiha Begum around 9am, who had been employed by Fahmida for around two years, the building staff and police said.
“I usually worked there at night. On Thursday night, I went there as usual but found the door locked. No one responded when I knocked, so I left. When I went back this morning [yesterday], I still found the door locked from inside. I knocked the door, I called on her mobile phone, but there was no response. So, I informed the security staff of the building,” she told the Dhaka Tribune.
The security staff then broke down the door and found Fahmida’s body lying on the floor. Later, they informed police.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Nur Alam, assistant commissioner of police at Khilgaon zone, said: “From what we have gathered from the primary investigation, it is not likely a case of robbery or theft.
“The furniture and other belongings were in disarray, but nothing seemed to be missing, apart from the victim’s mobile phone.
“We are looking into both her personal and professional lives to find out if she had any enemies. We are still waiting for the post-mortem report, which will hopefully give us some leads for the investigation.”
Rizwanul Alam, the victim’s brother who is also the director of Transparency International Bangladesh, filed a case of murder against unidentified suspects with Rampura police station yesterday evening.
“This is a murder,” he said, arriving on the scene after being informed by police. “I hope police will solve the mystery behind my sister’s death and catch the culprits who are responsible for it.”
Both Rizwan and Monowara claimed Fahmida never mentioned having any enemies.
