5 arrested over assault, robbery that killed elderly railway cleaner in Narsingdi

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested five people in connection with the death of a 70-year-old speech-impaired woman, Bobi Begum, who was assaulted and robbed at Methikanda Railway Station in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi.

RAB-11 Commanding Officer Lt Col Mohammad Masud Parvez confirmed the development today (10 July).

But the identities of the arrestees were not immediately disclosed.

RAB said further details will be provided at a press briefing scheduled for later in the afternoon at the force's Karwan Bazar media centre.

According to authorities, the incident occurred at around 2am last Saturday (4 July), when a group of assailants attacked Bobi while she was asleep in an abandoned room at the railway station and robbed her of the money she had saved over many years.

She sustained severe injuries to her eyes, face and other parts of her body.

On Tuesday night, her condition deteriorated and she was taken to Raipura Upazila Health Complex.

She was later referred to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital but died on the way there at around 1:15am on Wednesday.

Police said Bobi Begum's body was sent to the Narsingdi Sadar Hospital morgue on Wednesday morning for autopsy.

Following the examination, her body was handed over to the railway station authorities at around 8pm.

Funeral prayers were held at 10pm before she was laid to rest.

Nearly two decades ago, Bobi Begum got off a train at Methikanda Railway Station and remained there ever since.

An abandoned room at the station became her shelter.

Despite being speech-impaired, she voluntarily cleaned the station platform and toilets without pay, surviving on food and small donations from railway staff and local residents.