Police have linked a 40-year-old man to six murders committed over the last six months following the discovery of two charred bodies at an abandoned community centre in Savar.
The suspect, Mashirur Rahman Samrat, was detained Sunday night from the Muktir Mor area. During preliminary interrogation, he reportedly confessed to six killings, including the most recent double murder, according to Additional Superintendent of Police Arafatul Islam.
Police intensified their search after two unidentified, burnt bodies were found on the first floor of the abandoned Savar Municipal Community Centre on Sunday. CCTV footage captured Samrat’s "suspicious presence" at the scene, leading to his arrest.
While locals described Samrat as "mentally unstable" and a frequent wanderer near the Savar Model Police Station, ASP Arafatul stated that no signs of mental instability were observed during questioning. "Since he lives like a vagrant, we know him as a vagrant," the officer said, noting that Samrat’s permanent address remains unverified.
According to police records, five of the six victims were found at the same abandoned community centre: 29 August 2024: Decomposed body of a man (30) with hands tied. 11 October 2024: Body of a woman (30) with her throat slit. 19 December 2024: An unidentified man (35) found dead. 18 January 2026: Two charred bodies; one believed to be a 13-year-old girl and the other a 25-year-old of unconfirmed gender.
The sixth victim, 75-year-old Asma Begum, was found near the Savar Model Mosque. While initially thought to be a natural death, an autopsy confirmed she had been strangled.
The motive behind the killings remains unknown. Police have produced Samrat in court with a 10-day remand prayer to uncover further details. Separate cases have been filed for each incident.
