DNA samples collected from two suspects arrested over the murders of former schoolteacher Ganapati Chakraborty and his family in Rangpur have shown a “statistical match” with DNA recovered from evidence at the scene, police said.

“Tests on the DNA samples collected from Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das at the CID Forensic Lab in Dhaka matched the DNA found in the evidence,” Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Detective Branch) Sonaton Chakroborty said on Thursday night.

DNA found on date seeds, bitten cucumber pieces and cigarette filters collected from the house matched samples taken from the suspects.

Investigators had earlier detected male DNA on the date seeds, cucumber pieces and cigarette filters but had yet to identify whose DNA it was. The samples were later compared with those collected from the two suspects.

On August 22, police recovered the bodies of Ganapati, 65, a former teacher of Rangpur Zilla School, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty Bala, 50, daughter Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 25, and son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, 12, from their locked home in Machhuapara of Rangpur city.

Police arrested Mugdha and Siddhartha within six hours of the killings.

The suspects were taken from Rangpur Central Jail to Dhaka on the night of September 20, and their DNA samples were collected at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office the following day.

Investigators collected more than 35 pieces of evidence from the scene, including a fruit knife, foil used for Yaba consumption, cigarette ends, cucumbers, dates, marks on a washbasin and writing in a notebook belonging to one of the deceased children. The items were sent for forensic examination in several phases.

Police had earlier said the suspects stayed inside the house after the killings and ate dates and cucumbers.

The Detective Branch is investigating the case.