Bangladesh: Four Members Of Hindu Family Found Dead Inside Locked Rangpur Home

Four members of a Hindu family, including a retired schoolteacher, were found dead inside their locked home in Rangpur city on Saturday night, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

The deceased were identified as Ganapati Chakraborty, 65, a retired teacher of Rangpur Zilla School; his wife, Pritilata Chakraborty, 50; their daughter, Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 23; and their 12-year-old son, Priyam Chakraborty.

The bodies were recovered at around 11.30 pm from the family’s house in the Daspara (Machhuapara) area after police broke open the locked entrance. According to The Daily Star, Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station officer-in-charge Nazmul Kader said authorities had not yet established what had happened inside the house.

Family lost contact since Thursday

Relatives became concerned after they were unable to contact the family for several days. Puja Chakraborty, Pritilata’s younger sister, said she had last spoken to her sister on Thursday afternoon.

All four mobile phones used by the family were reportedly switched off from Thursday night.

Puja said relatives reached the house on Saturday night and found the main gate locked and the lights switched off. Police were called and entered the house after breaking the lock, where they found the four bodies.

She said the family had no idea who could have been responsible or what the motive might have been.

Bodies found at different locations

Subir Chowdhury, in-charge of the Rangpur Metropolitan Criminal Investigation Department, said the bodies were found in different parts of the house.

Pritilata and Agami were found on the staircase, while Ganapati’s body was recovered from the roof. Priyam’s body was found under a bed.

Police, the CID and the Detective Branch are investigating the deaths.

Family members say Ganapati had no enemies

Ganapati retired from Rangpur Zilla School on December 31 last year. After retirement, he had started working as a homoeopathic practitioner.

His daughter Agami had completed a Master’s degree in English from Rangpur Carmichael College this year. Priyam was a Class 5 student at Rangpur Zilla School.

Ganapati’s niece Soma Chakraborty said she had last spoken to her uncle on Thursday afternoon and went to the house after learning about the deaths on Saturday night. She described him as a good man and said he had no known enemies.

The family had built a new house in Daspara and had been living there.

Police yet to establish motive or circumstances

Police have not yet determined the exact timing, motive or circumstances of the four deaths.

“We have recovered the bodies of four people. We have not yet been able to establish any details about the incident,” Nazmul Kader said.

Subir Chowdhury said the investigation would determine who was responsible for the deaths. Investigators are examining the house and gathering information as they continue the probe.