Man sentenced to death 14 years after murdering wife over dowry
The convict, Sayed Ahmed, was sent back to jail following the verdict with a death warrant
A Dhaka tribunal today (26 April) sentenced a man to death for the murder of his wife, Rehena Begum, over a dowry demand 14 years ago.
Judge Md Moshiar Rahman of Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4 delivered the verdict against Sayed Ahmed in his presence.
In addition to the capital punishment, the court slapped a fine of Tk2 lakh on the convict, confirmed Public Prosecutor Ershad Alam George.
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He told The Business Standard that the judge directed the district magistrate to realise the fine by selling the convict's movable and/or immovable assets and hand over the amount to the victim's son.
According to the case statement, Sayed married Rehena Begum on 25 June 2012, with a dower of Tk1 lakh.
Following the marriage, he frequently tortured Rehena, demanding money and the transfer of a house registered in her name as dowry, it said.
According to the charge sheet, on the morning of 29 September 2012, the victim's mother, Rozina Begum, visited the house and found the door locked.
When Sayed finally opened the door, he appeared visibly shaken, claiming he was delayed because he was in the washroom.
Rozina found her daughter lying on the bed next to her infant son. Upon touching her, she found Rehena's body cold and noticed red spots on her face.
Sayed claimed she was sleeping after breakfast and that the marks were merely mosquito bites.
However, Rozina noticed dampness on the bed and realised her daughter was not breathing.
Neighbours rushed to the scene upon hearing her screams and suggested seeing a doctor, but Sayed insisted it was unnecessary.
Witness Kulsuma later testified that the couple had been quarrelling since that morning over the dowry demand.
The convict's family reportedly hurried to bury the victim at Azimpur Graveyard shortly after her death, after Rozina fell unconscious upon grasping the fact that her daughter was dead.
The mother subsequently filed a case with the court.
Following an investigation by Kamrangirchar police, the testimony of 11 witnesses during the trial, and the submission of the probe report on 16 October that year, a tribunal found the allegations to be true and handed down the maximum penalty.
Sayed was sent back to jail following the verdict with a death warrant.
