Four Arrested After 13-Year-Old Schoolboy Found Dead in Bangladesh
CUMILLA, BANGLADESH — September 22, 2026

Four people have been arrested in connection with the death of 13-year-old schoolboy Ishayat Shahriar Apratim, whose body was found in a wooded area of Lalmai Hill in Cumilla after he went missing, Bangladeshi authorities said.

Two of the accused are minors and have been transferred to a child development centre, while the two adult suspects are being held in Cumilla Central Jail.

Boy Disappeared After Leaving Home
Apratim, a seventh-grade student at Cumilla Border Guard Public School, left home on September 18 carrying his mother’s iPhone. He reportedly told his family that he was going out to take photographs.

When he failed to return, his family reported him missing. Police and university authorities reviewed CCTV footage during the search.

His body was found the following day in a wooded area in the Sananda section of Lalmai Hill, near Cumilla University.

Four Suspects Arrested
Police later arrested Saiful Islam Tuhin, 19; Mozammel Hossain Fahad, 15; Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, 16; and Siam, 19, in connection with the case.

According to police, three of the suspects were directly involved in the killing, while investigators were still examining the fourth suspect’s alleged involvement.

On September 20, three of the accused reportedly gave confessional statements before a Cumilla court. Police said they admitted beating Apratim after he resisted an attempt to take his iPhone.

Phone Recovered During Investigation
Police recovered the iPhone from Tuhin’s home during a search, according to investigators.

Authorities said the phone became an important piece of evidence as they reconstructed what happened after Apratim left home.

Police have alleged that the killing was linked to an attempt to steal the phone.

However, that explanation has been questioned by students at Comilla University, who called for authorities to investigate whether there were other motives or people involved.

Two Juvenile Suspects Sent to Child Centre
The two minor suspects, Fahad and Kamrul, were transferred to the Tongi Child Development Centre in Gazipur following a court order.

Tuhin and Siam remain in Cumilla Central Jail as the investigation continues.

Authorities are continuing to examine CCTV footage, statements and other evidence in an effort to establish the full circumstances surrounding Apratim’s death.

The allegations against the accused remain subject to the ongoing legal process.

Sources
The Business Standard — Apratim murder: Two minors sent to Tongi Child Dev Centre
The Financial Express — Four arrested over Apratim murder
The Business Standard — Three arrested suspects directly involved in killing Apratim
Prothom Alo — Students reject police claim that Apratim killed over an iPhone