Death of 2nd wife: MP Nazrul's bail plea rejected

A Dhaka court today (7 October) rejected the bail petition of Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam in a case filed over the alleged abetment of suicide of his second wife, Mariam Akter.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order after hearing both sides and sent Nazrul back to jail, Public Prosecutor Harun-or-Rashid confirmed to The Business Standard.

Defence lawyers Mahbubur Rahman and Mizanur Rahman sought bail for Nazrul, while the prosecution opposed the plea.

"The accused is elderly. The victim was a very young woman. The victim died by suicide while in the custody of the accused. The period he has spent in custody is not sufficient. If the accused is granted bail in this case, it may have an adverse reaction in society. Therefore, his bail is rejected."

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam.

In the bail petition, the defence claimed Nazrul was innocent and had no involvement in Mariam's death. It said the police could not present any evidence of his alleged involvement despite questioning him in remand.

The defence also said the matter had been settled between the two families and submitted a compromise deed along with the bail petition.

In the deed, Mariam's father SM Masum Billah said he had initially filed the case based on his immediate suspicion following his daughter's death. He later came to believe that Nazrul or his first wife, Maksuda, had not abetted Mariam's suicide.

He also said he had no objection to the accused being granted bail and that the compromise was reached to maintain relations between the two families.

The defence claimed Nazrul, 75, is a freedom fighter and suffers from serious heart disease. It also cited the bail granted to Maksuda on 30 September.

Opposing the bail plea, Public Prosecutor Harun-or-Rashid said the case involved non-compoundable offences and the compromise could not be a basis for bail.

"The case involves non-compoundable sections, so seeking a compromise is unlawful. The investigation is ongoing. Once it is completed, it will be clear whether this was a suicide or a murder," he said.

After hearing both sides, the judge said Nazrul was elderly and the victim was a young woman who died while in his custody. 

"The accused is elderly. The victim was a very young woman. The victim died by suicide while in the custody of the accused. The period he has spent in custody is not sufficient. If the accused is granted bail in this case, it may have an adverse reaction in society. Therefore, his bail is rejected," the judge said. 

Earlier, on the evening of 20 September, police recovered Mariam's hanging body from a flat at NAM Bhaban, opposite the Jatiya Sangsad complex.

Later that night, police took Nazrul and his first wife Maksuda into custody.

Mariam's father then filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, accusing Nazrul, Maksuda, and Mariam's maternal uncle Obaidur Rahman of allegedly abetting her suicide. All three were later arrested in the case.

The following day, a Dhaka court granted four days' remand for Nazrul and one day for Maksuda following a petition by Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Sub-Inspector Md Shamsuzzohha Sarker.

The investigation was handed over to the Detective Branch later that night.

Obaidur Rahman, who was arrested in the case on 23 September, was subsequently sent to jail by court order.

On 30 September, a Dhaka court granted bail to Maksuda in the same case.