Times24.net: Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam was placed on four days’ remand on Monday (September 21) in a case filed over the alleged abetment of suicide of his second wife, Mariam Khatun.
His first wife, Maksuda Islam, was remanded for one day in the same case. Police, however, had sought seven days’ remand for each of them for questioning.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam issued the orders after hearing the remand petitions on September 21. Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police prosecution division confirmed the decision.
The case investigator, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Shamsuzzoha Sarker, had sought the seven-day remands as part of the investigation into Mariam’s death.
Mariam Khatun, 19, was found hanging in a room of a flat in Building No. 5 of NAM Bhaban in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Sunday evening. Police later took Gazi Nazrul and his first wife into custody.
Mariam’s father, SM Masum Billah, filed the case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station late on Sunday, accusing Gazi Nazrul, Maksuda Islam and Md Obaidur Rahman of physical and mental abuse and abetting her suicide.
According to the case statement, Mariam married Gazi Nazrul in June under Islamic law.
Her father alleged that after the marriage, Gazi Nazrul and his first wife subjected Mariam to physical and psychological abuse over various issues. Mariam had told family members about the alleged mistreatment by telephone on several occasions, the case statement said.
According to the complaint, Gazi Nazrul called Mariam’s father at around 5:30pm on September 20 and asked him to come to the NAM Bhaban residence.
When Masum Billah arrived, he found a crowd at the flat and later learned that Mariam was hanging from a ceiling fan in a room with a scarf around her neck. Police and others at the scene broke open the door, which was locked from inside, according to the case statement.
Police also recovered what was described in the case as a handwritten “suicide note” from Mariam’s bed. Investigators initially believed it may have been written by Mariam, but police said its authenticity would need to be established through forensic examination by the Criminal Investigation Department.
The complaint alleges that the note referred to feelings of betrayal and emotional distress involving her husband.
Mariam’s father further alleged that Obaidur Rahman played a direct role in arranging or encouraging the marriage and that his daughter later died after being subjected to physical and psychological abuse and alleged instigation by Gazi Nazrul and Maksuda.
The allegations have not been proven in court and are being investigated.
At Monday’s remand hearing, prosecutors argued that questioning was necessary to determine whether the accused had subjected Mariam to pressure, threats or other conduct that may have contributed to her death, as well as to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Defence counsel opposed the remand petitions and sought bail. After hearing both sides, the court granted four days’ remand for Gazi Nazrul and one day for Maksuda.
