Child’s decomposed body found gagged at banana plantation in Faridpur

Workers at a banana plantation were removing a fallen banana tree when they noticed a sharp stench that led them to the body

The decomposed body of a child, who had gone missing a week ago in Faridpur’s Sadar Upazila, has been recovered from a banana plantation near the rail tracks.

The body was found near the Bakhunda Railway Station area in Gerda Union around 11:30am on Thursday, said Mahmudul Hasan, chief of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station.

The seven-year-old child had been a student in first grade at a local school. She had gone missing on the evening of Apr 24. Her mother filed a general diary (GD) with the Kotwali Police Station the following day.

Md Zakaria Khan, a member of the Gerda Union council, said that two local labourers had gone to work at the banana plantation at 9:30am and noticed a fallen banana tree. While trying to remove it, they noticed a sharp stench, and followed it to find the body.

The labourers informed the union council member about the incident and he reported it to the police.

Citing witnesses, he said: “The dead body was not wearing any clothes and was lying face down. Her mouth was covered with her trousers.”

Pijush Kanti Halder, sub-inspector of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station, recovered the body.

He said, “The body was decomposed and misshapen. It can be assumed that the child was killed on the day she went missing.”

Police official Mahmudul said, “The body was recovered in a decomposed and misshapen state. The child’s parents identified her from the clothes.”

He said, “The body has been recovered and sent to the Faridpur Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Initially, it is believed that this was a murder. An examination will tell us whether the child was abused or not.”

The police station is preparing to file a murder case over the incident, Mahmudul said.