Grief and allegations mount as five from same Gazipur family are buried side by side

Relatives recall Sharmin’s repeated visits to her sister, where she reportedly spoke of marital distress

Shock and mourning have swept through Gazipur after five relatives from a single household were discovered slain in their home under grim circumstances.

Family members of Sharmin Akhter, one of five victims, said she endured years of domestic discord driven by the “suspicious nature” of her husband Forqan Mia only for the sake of her three daughters.

Her elder sister Fatema broke down in tears on Sunday morning as the bodies of Sharmin and her three daughters arrived at their ancestral home in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila, along with Sharmin’s younger brother.

“Forqan was extremely suspicious. He would not even allow Sharmin to keep a mobile phone. There was unrest in the household, but she endured everything for her children,” Fatema said, weeping.

Fatema, who also lives in Gazipur, said Sharmin used to visit her every 10 to 15 days and often spoke of her marital distress.

According to family and local sources, Sharmin married Forqan around 17 years ago.

Forqan earned a living by driving a rented car.

After living in Dhaka for several years, the couple moved six months ago to a rented house in Rautkona village of Gazipur’s Kapasia.

On Saturday morning, police recovered the bodies of five people with their throats slit from that house.

The victims were Sharmin, 30, her three daughters -- Mim Khanom, 15, Umme Habiba, 8, and another known only as Faria, 2 -- and her younger brother Rasul Mia, 23.

Investigators suspect the killings may have stemmed from family disputes, with Forqan, the head of the household, believed to be involved.

He has been absconding since the incident.

Kapasia Police chief Shahinur Alam said the killings likely took place at some point on Friday night.

After the incident, Forqan reportedly called his cousin Abu Musa and Sharmin’s brother Jabbar Ali to inform them.

Relatives later discovered the bodies and alerted police.

A murder case was filed on Saturday night at Kapasia Police Station by Sharmin’s father Shahadat Hossain, naming Forqan and three to four unidentified individuals.

“I spoke to my daughter around 9pm the night before the incident. She told me, ‘Father, we will leave the house on May 24’,” Shahadat said, his voice breaking.

He said he learnt of the shocking incident after being alerted by Foraan’s brother.

“They killed my daughter, son and grandchildren. I want everyone involved arrested and punished to the fullest extent.”

The five victims were later buried side by side at a new cemetery in Uttar Charpara after funeral prayers at Paikkandi Madrasa field in Gopalganj Sadar on Sunday morning.

As the bodies arrived, grief engulfed the village.

Locals gathered in large numbers, while relatives collapsed in tears.

Five graves had already been dug side by side near the cemetery entrance.

Locals also blame Forqan for the killings, questioning how a father could take the lives of his own children.