Police have recovered the skeletal remains of a young man from a septic tank behind a house in Madhabpur, Habiganj, three years after he went missing. Four people, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the suspected murder.
The remains of Mahabbat Ali, son of Rusmat Ali, were recovered from a septic tank in Ramnagar village on Friday, October 30. Members of the District Detective Branch (DB) conducted the operation following a breakthrough in the long-running investigation.
According to police, Mahabbat disappeared on July 30, 2023. His father subsequently filed a murder case at Madhabpur Police Station on August 18 of the same year.
Initially, investigators arrested six people over suspected involvement in the killing, reportedly linked to a dispute involving drugs. However, police failed to find conclusive evidence, and those suspects were later released on bail.
The investigation took a dramatic turn recently after detectives obtained a recorded phone conversation involving a man named Shah Alam. During an argument with another individual, he allegedly said, “I killed Mahabbat, and I’ll kill you too.”
The recording prompted investigators to reopen the case and examine Shah Alam’s possible involvement. Acting on the information, DB police launched an operation in Ramnagar village on Friday and arrested four people.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Shah Alam, 34, his wife Jahanara Begum, 34, and their neighbours Joynal Mia, 21, and Yasin Mia, 24.
During police questioning, the suspects reportedly described how Mahabbat was allegedly killed. According to their statements, Mahabbat had a romantic relationship with Shah Alam’s niece. Later, he allegedly attempted to develop a relationship with Shah Alam’s wife, Jahanara Begum, which reportedly triggered anger and led to a murder plan.
Investigators said Jahanara allegedly lured Mahabbat to their house. When they became aware that other people might arrive, Mahabbat was reportedly hidden inside a wardrobe. He was subsequently strangled, and his body was dumped into the septic tank behind the house.
Police recovered the skeletal remains based on information provided by the arrested suspects.
Madhabpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana confirmed that the remains are currently in DB police custody. The four arrested individuals have been sent to jail through the court.
Police also said Mahabbat had several drug-related cases against him and was reportedly involved in disputes with local drug traders. These earlier conflicts had initially complicated the investigation into his disappearance.
After three years without answers, a recorded phone conversation has now provided investigators with a major breakthrough in the case.
The allegations and statements made during police questioning will be subject to further investigation and judicial proceedings.
Reporting by Admin for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 01 Nov 2026, 19:00.
