Aziza's Death: Police suspect it may be a case of suicide

Aziza, a 14-year-old girl from Narsingdi who was previously thought to have been murdered, may have died by suicide, police now suspect.

Last week, the teenage girl succumbed to serious burns injuries.

At the time, it was reported that she was set afire after four men tied her to a tree and doused her with petrol on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone.

Later on, Tamuza Begum, an accused in the FIR, said Aziza's aunt Beauty, was having an affair which Aziza came to know of and that is why she was killed. She also alleged the involvement of Beauty and her relatives in the “murder”.

Yesterday at a press briefing held at the conference room of Narsingdi police superintendent's office, SP Amena Begum told the reporters of the new developments.

The primary investigation of police has now found that Aziza herself bought kerosene from a shop after her “boyfriend”, along with his friends, took compromising photos of her and then threatened to publish those online. They also robbed her of her valuables.

Police arrested her “boyfriend” Rumman and his two friends Sujon and Rezaul on Monday and also claimed to have recovered the lost mobile phone of Aziza's aunty from them. On Tuesday, the trio gave confessional statements at a Narsingdi court.

But police are yet to confirm whether it was a suicide or murder, saying that the matter would be clarified after the arrest of one Rubel.

Aziza's father Sattar, alleged that it was Rubel who brought Aziza from her house and tied her to the tree.

Meanwhile, the other two arrestees -- Beauty Begum and her mother Sanowara Begum -- were placed on a two-day remand yesterday.

“On that day (Friday) the victim Aziza called Rumman at 11:50am from her brother's mobile phone and left for Narsingdi town from Shibpur around 1:00pm,” Amena said, after analysing the call lists of the different mobile phones used.

Meanwhile, Rumman told his friend Sajib to join him saying that his girlfriend was coming. “Aziza introduced herself as Lovely to them,” the police official said.

When Rumman asked her about the reason for coming to Narsingdi, she informed them that her father had fixed her marriage despite her disagreement.

“Aziza asked Rumman to rent her a room for three months and Rumman told her he would need money. Aziza said she had Tk 5000, three mobile phones and some ornaments. She told Rumman to take them all” the SP said, quoting the arrestees.

Sajib then took Rumman aside and told him to grab the valuables from Aziza. Rumman agreed with him.

Rumman then informed the matter to three other friends -- Rezaul, Sujon, and Rimaz -- and asked them to join him.

They then took Aziza to Sujon's distant aunt's place where they rented a room for Tk 200 for a while, the SP said.

“As per the plan, Rumman groped Aziza and Sujon captured it on his mobile phone,” the police official claimed.

Later, they demanded she hand over her valuables, blackmailing her with the video clip. As she refused, Sujon called Aziza's brother over the phone asking for Tk one lakh, but he did not agree to their proposal.

“Then Aziza's brother-in-law called them back at 7:51pm, telling them not to harm her. He agreed to pay Tk 20,000 and Sujon informed him that they would send her back shortly,” the police official said, adding that they have obtained the relevant call records.

Later, they robbed Aziza of her money, mobile phones and ornaments. After Sajib, Rumman and Rimaz left the place, Rezaul and Sujon got Aziza an auto-rickshaw around 8:00pm on Friday, SP Amena alleged.

“Aziza later bought one litre kerosene oil from one Mizanur Rahman's shop in Kutir Bazar. After a while, locals heard a scream at an orchard near Aziza's house and rushed there where they saw her on fire,” the police official claimed, adding that they are yet to confirm whether it is suicide or murder.

“On her way to the hospital, Aziza could only scream for water. She couldn't say anything else as her condition was very critical,” she added.

After Aziza's death on Saturday morning at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, it was alleged that she was burnt to death for stealing her aunt's mobile phone. Her father Abdus Sattar filed a murder case with Shibpur Police Station accusing seven persons.

Earlier police also speculated that Aziza might have been killed because she found out about Beauty's extra-marital affair.

Police and Rab arrested six persons so far in this connection, including the three accused.