Mosque Muezzin Confesses to Killing Tangail Homemaker in Robbery Attempt

A mosque muezzin has confessed before a magistrate to killing a homemaker in Tangail in an attempt to steal her gold jewelry, according to police and court officials.

Mosharaf Hossain, the muezzin of Chowrasta Jame Mosque, recorded a confessional statement under Section 164 of Bangladesh's Code of Criminal Procedure before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md. Golam Mahbub Khan on Tuesday.

Court Inspector Md. Murad Hossain confirmed that the confession was recorded after Tangail Sadar Police produced the 42-year-old suspect before the court.

According to court sources, Mosharaf said he had known the victim, Nazma Alam Nazu, and her family for nearly 18 years. He told the court that he had fallen into financial hardship and accumulated significant debt. After previously borrowing money from Nazu, he again approached her for financial assistance on June 28, but she refused.

In his statement, Mosharaf allegedly said he became enraged, retrieved a hammer from another room and struck Nazu on the head. When he attempted to remove the gold jewelry she was wearing, she resisted. He then allegedly assaulted her again with the hammer until she died.

He further told the court that he broke the home's CCTV camera after confirming her death and fled with the victim's jewelry, the hammer and the CCTV recording device in an effort to conceal evidence.

Police said the investigation began after officers arrested local gold trader Santosh Karmakar, who was allegedly found with the stolen jewelry, cash and other evidence linked to the case. Information obtained during his interrogation led investigators to Mosharaf, who was later arrested.

Police said Mosharaf initially admitted his involvement during questioning and expressed willingness to give a judicial confession before a magistrate.

Nazma Alam Nazu, 51, was found dead inside her home in the Bishwas Betka area of Tangail town on Sunday. The killing sparked widespread public concern, with many residents demanding a swift investigation and justice for the victim.

Additional Superintendent of Police SM Rezwan Siddiqui said investigators solved the case within 24 hours using digital evidence and intelligence. He said the theft of the victim's gold chain and bangles provided the first lead, resulting in the arrest of the gold trader and, subsequently, the alleged killer.

The confession is part of the ongoing investigation. The allegations against the accused will ultimately be determined through judicial proceedings.