Police identified the victims as Rasheda Begum, 60, and her granddaughter Borna Akter, 22.
Chawkbazar police OC Shamimur Rashid Talukder told bdnews24.com that Rasheda’s son-in-law ‘Jibon’ committed the murders on Monday afternoon.
He said police were trying to catch Jibon who had fled the scene right after the murders.
Jibon’s wife had died a while back, leaving their son and a daughter in Rasheda’s custody, Talukder said.
Jibon wanted to have custody of his children. When his in-laws did not agree, the matter went to court.
The court had given Rasheda Begum custody of the children, but Jibon had been trying to take them back, Talukder said.
The OC said, “Jibon went to Rasheda’s home around 2pm and started an argument. When Rasheda declined to send the children with him, Jibon picked up a sharp weapon and started hacking her haphazardly.
“He also hacked Rasheda’s daughter Sima and granddaughter Borna when they had tried to stop him.”
Rashed died on the spot, Talukder said. The two others were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Borna dead.