Five-year-old Muntaha Akhtar Jerin, a girl from the border town of Kanaighat in Sylhet, was missing for eight days, capturing the nation’s attention both in the media and on social platforms.
Her innocent face circulated widely online, with people across the country sharing posts and offering rewards, hoping for her safe return.
However, she was found dead early Sunday around 4 a.m., while her body was buried near a pond by her home in Kanaighat.
Police retrieved the body after questioning a local woman, who had been brought in late Saturday night. Following information from her, officers located the buried remains near the pond.
Muntaha was the daughter of Shamim Ahmed, a resident of Bhararifoud village in Kanaighat's Birdal area.
Her grandfather, Salik Mia, confirmed the tragic news to the media.
Muntaha went missing on November 3 after attending a religious event with her father. Later, when she failed to return from playing with neighborhood children, her family reported her missing and filed a general diary (GD) with Kanaighat police, suspecting kidnapping.
They also announced a reward of 100,000 taka for information on her alleged abductor. Social media users joined in, offering additional rewards and amplifying the search for Muntaha.