Khulna’s Rahima Begum, who was rescued from a house in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila, was handed over to Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) today.
Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Doulatpur Police Station, said Rahima had been “missing” for last 29 days and was rescued earlier today.
She was rescued from the house of one Quddus in Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila. She had been staying there since September 17, said police.
Molla Jahangir Hossain, deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police (North), told reporters that when the officers went to the house, they saw Rahima talking to two women. She stopped talking when police officers started asking questions.
The KMP official said that since the case has been transferred to PBI, they will now look into the matter. This whole incident of Rahima going “missing” and her family’s ordeal while looking for her, had shaken the entire nation.
“A thousand thanks to Allah that we could locate her. We are all happy and relieved. The rest will be investigated by PBI. I’m hopeful that PBI will be able to unravel the mystery,” he said.
Police detained three people – including two women – from the house in Faridpur where Rahima was found, for questioning.
Read: 'Missing' Rahima Begum of Khulna found alive in Faridpur: Police
In this regard, Rahima’s son Sadi said, “Since my mother was rescued alive, she will be able to shed light on the disappearance.”
“If someone from my family is involved in the incident, administration will take action against them,” he added.
On August 27, Rahima went missing after she had stepped out to fetch water near her home in Banikpara area of Khulna’s Doulatpara upazila around 10pm. Her family 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, after Rahima remained missing for 17 days and police failed to find her, her younger daughter Aduri Akter appealed to the Khulna court to transfer the case to the PBI, said Rahima’s elder daughter Moriom Mannan.
Also read: Reported “missing”, Khulna’s Rahima was staying in Faridpur since Sept 17: Police
The same day the court ordered 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.
As the case was investigated by the PBI, a remand appeal made by the police to interrogate Rahima’s husband Belal remains pending for hearing, said police.
Rahima’s family resorted to putting up “missing” posters in Khulna city in the hope they will get their mother back.
On Thursday night, Rahima’s daughter Moriom Mannan wrote in a Facebook post that they had found their mother’s body in Mymensingh.