Decomposed Body of Woman Recovered from Apartment in Dhaka’s Pallabi

Police have recovered the decomposed body of a woman, identified as Selina Afroz, approximately 55 years old, from an apartment in Dhaka’s Pallabi area. The incident comes amid ongoing public discussion over the recent recovery of another decomposed body of an elderly woman in the capital.

According to police, the body was recovered early Wednesday (June 4) from a third-floor apartment on Road No. 10 in Section 6 of Pallabi after authorities received a call through the national emergency service hotline 999. The body was later sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

Pallabi Police Station Inspector Emdad said the woman appeared to have died several days before the body was discovered.

Police sources said Selina Afroz’s husband, Mominul Haque, and their three children—one son and two daughters—currently reside in Canada. Selina had also lived in Canada but returned to Bangladesh around eight to ten years ago. Since then, she had been living alone in her late father’s apartment in Pallabi. One of her sisters lives with her family on the floor above in the same building.

Sub-Inspector Mobarak Ali said Selina had reportedly returned to Bangladesh following marital problems and had been living independently. She had no domestic help and managed her daily activities on her own. Her last known communication was with a nephew on the night of May 26, after which no one was able to contact her.

Police said they had to break open the apartment door before finding the body in the dining area. Investigators observed blood on her face and signs of injury to her head. Water was also found running from a tap in the bathroom.

“Based on preliminary observations, we suspect she may have fallen while bathing or after leaving the bathroom and suffered fatal injuries,” said SI Mobarak. “However, the exact cause of death can only be confirmed after the autopsy report is received.”

Following the post-mortem examination, Selina Afroz was buried Wednesday at Jannatul Mawa Cemetery near her residence.

The incident follows the recovery of the decomposed body of Nurjahan Begum from another apartment in Pallabi earlier this week. Her death drew widespread public criticism over the role of her children, including a senior government official and a university professor, in her apparent isolation. Subsequently, her eldest son, a joint secretary in the government, was placed on special duty (OSD).