Khulna woman remains missing for 18 days, 6 held

Police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested six people in connection with the disappearance of a 55-year-old woman in Khulna on August 27.

Rahima Khatun went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water near her home in the Banikpara area of Doulatpara upazila in Khulna around 10pm on that day.

Rahima’s second husband Belal Howladar was taken into police custody on Monday night for interrogation and later was shown arrested in a case filed on a complaint filed by her children, said Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Doulatpur police station.

Earlier five others -- Mohiuddin, Palash, Jewel, Helal Sharif and assistant engineer at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Golam Kibria -- were arrested in this case.

Of them, four were accused by the plaintiff in the case statement, said the OC.

OC Nazrul said that Rapid Action Battalion and other law enforcing agencies were also investigating the matter along with police.

“On August 27, Rahima’s cell phone was active in the Jogipole area after 10 pm but it was switched off before it could be tracked,” said the OC.

Rahima’s daughter Mariyam Hannan, in a Facebook post, said on Monday that her mother “has been missing for the last 17 days” though the administration claimed they are working to find her.

“Every moment my mother’s face comes to my mind whether I go to sleep or eat. She must be hoping her children will find her soon,” she wrote.