Residents of West Ulon in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area staged a protest on Wednesday night, surrounding the local police station after the body of six-year-old Tahedi Akter was discovered in stagnant water at an under-construction building. The demonstrators demanded justice and blocked nearby roads, alleging foul play in the child’s death.

Police said the body was recovered on Tuesday night and sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Tahedi, daughter of Md. Liton Mia from Comilla’s Titas upazila, lived with her family in West Ulon. Her uncle reported that she went missing while her mother was praying, and was later found unresponsive in the water pit. Family members expressed suspicion about the cause of death, citing inconsistencies such as the absence of water in her stomach and biscuit crumbs in her mouth.

Hatirjheel Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Mortuza confirmed that a murder case was being filed, though no suspects were named. He said the investigation was being treated with high priority.