DHAKA: Industrialist couple was found dead at their residence in Banani DOHS (Defence Officers’ Housing Society) area of the city on Monday night. 

Police recovered their bullet-hit bodies at 8:30pm on the day.

The deceased were identified as Abdur Rab, owner of Afsar Group, and his wife Rokhsana Begum. They resided at the flat no. 4 of Badria Rashid House in 60/2 holding on road no 5 of the DOHS.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) (Cantonment Zone) assistant commissioner (AC) Mashruf Hossain confirmed the matter to banglanews.

The police were not clear on the matter whether they committed suicide or were killed. Police suspect “the wife was shot dead first, then husband Abdur Rab committed suicide,” said Mashruf.

DMP Crime Seen Unit collected evidences from the spot and the bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue.

High officials of Police and Rapid Action Battalion visited the spot.

Iqbal Hossian, a friend of Abdur Rab, told banglanews, “The couple had been frustrated for long as they did not manage to pay the bank loans and the family (members) were experiencing severe discomfort on the matter.”

They might have been committed suicide due to the frustration, Iqbal opined.

Quoting Nigar Zaman, a neighboring tenant who lives in the flat no, 2-B, closed to the dead couple’s flat, Zahid Hasan, Nigar’s younger brothers, told banglenews, “The couple had three sons and a daughter.”

“The daughter, Sonali, 9, and a sexagenarian maid live with them here while the three sons live with their grand mother; but, a son is staying aboard on honeymoon,” Zahid added.

Sonali found her parents dead after she had been back from playground on the afternoon of the day.

Zahid told that no sound of gunshot was heard till the afternoon.

The maid was staying at a side-room, but she could not hear any sound of gunshot as she suffers from hearing-problem, the maid told the journalists.

Naim Ahmed, one of the couple’s sons, told banglanews, “Disquiets were going on between father and mother on business losses and property buy and sale.”

“But, my wife talked with my mother on the noon, situation was normal at that time; but, someone phoned me on the evening and informed me about the killing,” the son added.

Naim went on saying, “Father had a licensed pistol; he might have shot dead mother at first, then committed suicide firing on his head.”

DMP Gulshan Zone deputy commissioner (DC) Lutfor Kabir said, “The body of Abdur Rab had bullet-hit mark on the head, and two of his licensed pistol were used.”

“Abdur Rab’s body was found sitting on the floor lying back on the sofa and wife Rukhsana’s was on the bed” added the DC.

Lutfor said, “whether the incident was a killing or a suicide would be confirmed after getting the forensic experts.’

BDST: 0830 HRS, SEP 02 31, 2014