Neighbour arrested over brutal murder of 8-year-old in Sitakunda hills

The arrest comes hours after the child dies at CMCH, three days after she is found with her throat slit

Police have arrested a 45-year-old man in connection with the brutal murder of an 8-year-old girl, who succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday, three days after she was found with her throat slit in a remote Sitakunda hill.

The suspect, identified as Babu Sheikh, was apprehended from Kumira around 12pm on Tuesday.

Chattogram District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Nazir Ahmed Khan announced the arrest during a press briefing at Sitakunda Police Station in the evening.

Babu, who is originally from Gaibandha, is a neighbour of the victim, according to police.

The victim, Jannatul Nesa, affectionately called Ira Moni, was a second-grade student at a local primary school.

Her father Monirul Islam drives an electric rickshaw.

On Sunday afternoon, construction workers, while paving a road at the Sitakunda Botanical Garden hills, spotted the child emerging from the forest with her throat slit.

Despite having her windpipe severed, she had managed to walk out of the woods to seek help from the workers.

The child passed away on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at the Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

Sitakunda Police chief Mohinul Islam earlier said the child was found over 7km away from her home.