Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Ishayat Shahriar Opritam, a 13-year-old seventh-grade student in Cumilla. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the arrested individuals have confessed to their involvement in the murder.

He made the disclosure while speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday (September 20).

The Home Minister described the incident in Cumilla as deeply tragic. He said Opritam, who was 13, was found dead nearly 24 hours after he went missing. Police subsequently launched an operation to arrest those suspected of involvement.

He said three suspects were initially arrested, followed by another, bringing the total number of arrests to four. Of them, two are believed to be over 18, while one may be under 18. However, the national identity cards (NIDs) of all the arrested individuals are being verified.

“They have confessed to the crime. The remaining legal procedures are now underway,” the Home Minister said.

He also said the mobile phone that had been with Opritam was recovered. According to him, the phone was found in the possession of the main suspect, identified as Tuhin.

The minister further said that various pieces of evidence related to the murder had been recovered. Police are conducting forensic analysis, while the victim’s autopsy has been completed. Opritam was buried on Sunday.

Praising the police, the Home Minister said they had managed to arrest the suspects and seize important evidence within a short period.

Expressing hope that the trial would be completed quickly, he said police would complete the necessary legal procedures and submit a charge sheet to the court. The court will then conduct the trial. He expressed hope that the case would be disposed of swiftly, similar to the trial in the Ramisa murder case.