Cap-worn person seen with Apratim before he went missing

Police have detained a young man named Tuhin as a suspect in connection with the recovery of the body of Ishayat Shahriar Apratim, 13, son of Comilla University teacher Dr. Nahida Begum.

Tuhin was detained from the Kotbari area on Saturday afternoon following the recovery of the body and is currently being interrogated. He is from the Sananda area. His father’s name is Nurul Alam.

According to police and university sources, efforts to locate Apratim had been underway since he went missing. CCTV footage from the Kotbari area and the vicinity of the university was reviewed. On Saturday morning, while examining the footage, investigators spotted Apratim near the university’s main gate with another youth—older than Apratim and wearing a cap.

Commenting on the footage, University Vice-Chancellor M. M. Shariful Karim said, “The proctorial team observed a local youth moving around with Apratim in the footage from the university entrance. His movements appeared suspicious. We informed law enforcement agencies, and they are proceeding with their investigation.”

He added, “Apratim left home on Friday, and never returned. Upon learning of the incident, the university’s proctorial team, deans, teachers, and officials contacted his family. The police were also notified. Two university teams began working on the case yesterday. Today, his body was found. There are no words to describe the loss.”

Md. Lutfar Rahman, Media Officer and Additional Superintendent of Police for Cumilla District, stated, “One person has been detained for questioning in connection with the recovery of Apratim’s body. Further legal action will be taken after verifying the information obtained from him.”

Apratim went missing on Friday afternoon after leaving his rented home in the Kotbari area. He was a seventh-grade student at Border Guard Public School in Comilla. His family reported that he had left the house with his mother’s iPhone, saying he was going to take photos with friends. On Saturday around 1:00 pm, police recovered Apratim’s body from the Lalmai Hill forest in Sananda village, located in Bijoypur Union of Cumilla Sadar South Upazila. There were signs of injury on his head.

Police said the iPhone has not yet been found. There is no confirmed information at this stage on whether he was killed with the intent of robbery. Nothing definitive can be said about the motive until the investigation is concluded.

Cumilla District Police stated that the body would be sent to the morgue at Cumilla Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. An investigation is underway to identify those involved and determine the cause of death.