A night of horror in Cox’s Bazar has etched itself into memory with unimaginable brutality.

A wife was raped before her husband’s eyes and moments later, the husband was hacked to death in front of his helpless wife—a woman now scarred with trauma for life.

The incident occurred around midnight on Saturday in Uttaran Residential Area on the Kalatali Bypass in Cox’s Bazar town.

The shocking news was confirmed by Additional Superintendent of Police and police spokesperson Md Jashim Uddin Chowdhury.

The lifeless body of Ranjan Chakma now lies at the morgue of Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital.

His wife, the survivor of both sexual violence and bereavement, is undergoing treatment at the same hospital.

Police, with the aid of locals, have arrested the accused, Biral Chakma (55), who is now in custody.

Trust betrayed under the guise of acquaintance

Police investigations reveal that Biral Chakma was an acquaintance of Ranjan Chakma’s wife.

On this pretext, three days earlier Ranjan had travelled to Cox’s Bazar and taken shelter at Biral’s residence.

The couple were staying there while attempting to collect a due payment from one Jashim at the Cox’s Bazar bus terminal.

But what appeared to be hospitality concealed a sinister betrayal.

According to the survivor, Biral had been making indecent advances towards her over the past few days. When she rejected him, he grew resentful.

The night of horror unfolds

On Saturday night, Biral and Ranjan drank alcohol together. At one stage, in a drunken state, Biral forced Ranjan out of the house.

Seizing the opportunity, Biral raped Ranjan’s wife. Her desperate screams brought her husband rushing back—only to witness the horrific assault on his partner.

When Ranjan tried to intervene, Biral picked up a sharp machete and struck him violently on the head, killing him on the spot.

A widow’s desperate cry and the mob’s chase

Shattered and terrified, the woman managed to slip out of the house and run onto the street, crying for help.

Locals gathered swiftly and spotted Biral trying to flee with bloodstains on his body and a bag in hand. He was overpowered on the spot and handed over to police.

Legal action underway

Additional Superintendent of Police Md Jashim Uddin Chowdhury confirmed that legal proceedings are underway against the arrested accused.

Yet, beyond the processes of law, one cannot ignore the human tragedy. In one single night, a woman lost both her dignity and her life partner in the most brutal fashion imaginable. The shadow of that night will haunt not only her but also the conscience of Cox’s Bazar for years to come.