Husband among 4 arrested over alleged dowry killing in Sitakunda

The Special Response Battalion (SRB-7) in Chattogram has arrested a woman’s husband and three others over the alleged dowry-related murder of the 22-year-old woman in Sitakunda.

According to a press release issued by SRB-7, the victim, Chandana Shil, was found dead on a field ridge behind Teriyail School in Baraiyadhala union of Sitakunda upazila yesterday morning (9 October), with her hands tied in front of her body and a scarf wrapped around her neck.

The main accused, Shimul Shil, 24, the victim’s husband, was arrested in front of Kumira Highway Police Station at Boro Darogarhat in Sitakunda around 10pm on 9 October.

Based on information provided by Shimul, the unit arrested Pijush Shil alias Pritam, 23, another accused in the case, in front of Lucky Community Centre at Teriyail Bazar around 10:40pm the same night.

Two more suspects, Nazrul Islam, 38, and Md Ilias, 35, were arrested in the early hours on 10 October, respectively, the release added.

The four were handed over to Sitakunda Model Police Station for further legal action.

According to the law enforcement agency, Chandana was the daughter of Tejendra Das of South-West Saidpur in Sitakunda’s Saidpur union. She married Shimul, son of Dilip Shil of Boro Kumira, about a year ago after a romantic relationship.

The agency said Chandana had allegedly faced physical and mental abuse from her husband and his family over demands for Tk4 lakh in dowry since shortly after the marriage. She had also reportedly received threats to her life.

Under pressure to meet the demand, Chandana began working at a local factory, the release said.

On the day before her death, she allegedly returned to her father’s home after being subjected to abuse and cried over the demand for a dowry. Her family later reassured her and sent her back to her husband’s home, according to the agency.

Around 12:30am on 9 October, an argument reportedly broke out between Chandana and the accused in the Teriyail Bazar area. The accused allegedly took her to a field ridge behind Teriyail School, tied her hands across her chest with her scarf and

strangled her with the remaining part of it before fleeing the scene, the release said.

Local residents discovered the body in the morning and informed police. The body was recovered and sent to the Chattogram Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

The victim was initially unidentified, but her family later recognised her from photographs circulated on social media, according to the release.

Her father subsequently filed a murder case with Sitakunda Model Police Station on 9 October, accusing four named individuals and two to three unidentified people.

Following the incident, SRB-7 conducted surveillance and a shadow investigation to identify those involved and arrest the suspects, the release added.

The allegations against the accused have not been independently verified, and the case remains under investigation.