Khulna’s Rahima Begum handed over to PBI

PBC News:  Housewife Rahima Begum, who was rescued alive from a house in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila, has been handed over to  Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Khulna.

Addressing a press conference at about 11:30am on Sunday at PBI office in Khulna city, PBI police super Syed Mushfiqur Rahman said the PBI would now investigate the Rahima Begum’s missing case.

Inspector Dola Dey of Doulatpur Police Station said Rahima Begum didn’t disclose anything else about her missing. She doesn’t want to go to her husband and daughter. She, however, didn’t say anything else why she didn’t want to go to them. Daughter Mariam Mannan came to meet her in the morning, but Rahima Begum declined to meet with her.

Rahima Begum, who went missing on August 27 from her house at Uttar Banikpara area under Maheshwarpara in Khulna city, was rescued from Abdul Quddus’ house at Boalmari in Faridpur district at about 10:45pm on Saturday. She had been staying there since September 17, said police.

Police also arrested Abdul Quddus, his wife and son for questioning.

Molla Jahangir Hossain, deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police (North), said now PBI will investigate the missing incident of Rahima. “We hope they will be able to unearth the motive.”

Molla Jahangir Hossain was addressing a press briefing at Doulatpur police station of Khulna around 2:30am on Sunday.

“Rahima didn’t answer to any of the questions of police and remained ‘speechless’ since she was brought under police custody,” said Molla Jahangir.

Based on intelligence team’s information, a team of KMP conducted a drive at the house of Quddus Molla in Syedpur village of Faridpur’s Boalmari Upazila and found Rahima safe on Saturday night.

Rahima Begum was brought to Daulatpur Police Station around 2:00am.

Relatives of Quddus told police that Rahima had been staying in the house since September 17.

In this regard, Rahima’s son Sadi said, “Since my mother was rescued alive, she herself will say about the disappearance.”

“If someone from my family is found involved in the incident, the administration will take action,” he added.

The PBI will further investigate the matter, said Molla Jahangir.

On August 27, Rahima went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water near her home in the Banikpara area of Doulatpara upazila in Khulna around 10:00pm.

Her children found her sandals, scarf and the pitcher she was carrying from the spot.

The family first filed a complaint with the police, based on which an FIR was lodged by the cops against some people.

On September 13, her younger daughter Aduri Akter appealed to the Khulna court to transfer the case to the PBI, said Rahima’s elder daughter Mariam Mannan.

The same day the court ordered the police to hand over the case to the PBI.

So far, six people have been arrested in this case. They are: Rahima’s second husband Belal Howladar, Mohiuddin, Palash, Jewel, Helal Sharif, and assistant engineer at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) Golam Kibria.