Unknown assailants hacked a woman and her daughter to death and left her son injured after attacking them while they were asleep in their house at Atlora village in Gazipur early yesterday, said police.
Hasuni Bibi, 50, widow of Amir Uddin; her daughter Arifa Khatun, 18, and son Shahjahan Mia, 21, were in the same room.
Hasuni's another son, Mujibur Rahman, 23, who was in another room, said he called neighbours on seeing the three covered in blood.
Arifa's cousin Marzia Akher, who along with others rushed to the spot, said the culprits might have raped or tried to rape Arifa as she was found with no clothes on.
The incident occurred around 1:00am, said Prohadpur Union Parishad Chairman Abu Syed, adding that the miscreants fled when the victims screamed.
Arifa was declared dead at Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College Hospital on arrival. Hasuni died while she and Shahjahan were being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Abdul Motaleb Mia, officer-in-charge of Sreepur Police Station, said they could not say whether Arifa was raped until a medical report was available.
The bodies were sent to Gazipur Shahid Taj Uddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for autopsies.