Family massacre in Mymensingh; police hunt for missing brother

A sleepy morning in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh turned into a scene of horror and grief on Monday when the throat-slit bodies of a mother and her two young children were discovered inside their rented home.

The victims -- Moyna Akter, 25, her daughter Raisa, 7, and son Nirob, just two years old -- were found lying in a pool of blood, brutally murdered in what police suspect to be a case of domestic violence.

The discovery was made by Moyna’s husband, Rafiqul Islam, who had been working the night shift at a nearby spring factory.Returning home around 9am, he found the front door locked from the outside. Repeated calls to his wife and family members went unanswered.Alarmed, Rafiqul broke open the door only to see a nightmare that no one should have to witness.Moyna, a garment worker, had been living in Bhaluka with Rafiqul and their two children, along with Rafiqul’s younger brother Nazrul Islam, 21.

The family originally hails from Kendua upazila in neighbouring Netrokona district, but Rafiqul had relocated to Bhaluka for work.According to police and local residents, Rafiqul left for his night duty on Sunday evening, leaving his wife, children, and brother Nazrul at home.Everything appeared normal then, but by Monday morning all had changed.Police were called to the scene immediately after Rafiqul’s horrific discovery.

“We recovered the three bodies and brought them to the police station,” said Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Bhaluka Model Police Station, adding, “We have launched a full investigation to determine the motive behind this appalling crime.”

Suspicion has quickly fallen on Nazrul Islam, who has been missing since the incident. “It is believed that he might have killed them,” OC Kabir said.

The police are now searching for him as a prime suspect in the triple homicide.