Imam Arrested Over Wife’s Alleged Murder

An imam of a local mosque has been arrested by Bangladesh’s Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) on allegations of murdering his wife following a prolonged period of domestic conflict in Tongibari Upazila of Munshiganj. Investigators say the suspect attempted to stage the death as a suicide before fleeing the area with the couple’s four-year-old daughter. He was arrested within approximately 24 hours through a technology-assisted investigation.

The victim, 28-year-old Ayesha Akter, was a resident of East Baligaon village in Baligaon Union under Tongibari Upazila. The accused, 32-year-old Md Mohasin Matubbar, served as the imam of a local Jame Mosque in the same village. Originally from Bahara village in Gopalganj’s Muksudpur Upazila, he had been living with his wife in rented accommodation in East Baligaon for the past six months. The couple had a four-year-old daughter.

According to the PBI, the couple had married in accordance with Islamic Sharia. Preliminary findings indicate that their relationship had been marked by recurring disputes, particularly over the victim’s two previous marriages. Investigators believe the issue had been a persistent source of tension and arguments between the couple for an extended period.

The investigation suggests that the conflict intensified on the evening of 5 July. After returning home following the Isha prayer, Mohasin allegedly became angry after seeing his wife wearing an old set of clothes. The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical assault during which he allegedly tore her clothing.

The following morning, on 6 July, another argument broke out after Mohasin asked why breakfast had not been prepared. Ayesha reportedly replied that she was suffering from a headache. Investigators allege that the conversation soon turned into another dispute centred on her previous marriages, during which Mohasin verbally abused and physically assaulted her.

According to investigators, the confrontation became increasingly violent. Mohasin allegedly grabbed his wife’s neck and pushed her forcefully against a wall. The impact caused severe injuries to her head and body after she struck a wooden section of the wall, leading to her death.

PBI officials said that after realising she had died, the suspect attempted to disguise the incident as a suicide. He allegedly wrapped a scarf around the victim’s neck and tried to suspend the body to create the appearance of self-harm. When the attempt failed, he reportedly abandoned the body on the bed, took the couple’s young daughter and fled the area.

The victim’s brother, Md Shamim Talukdar, later filed a murder case with Tongibari Police Station. Following the registration of the case, the PBI’s Munshiganj unit assumed responsibility for the investigation.

Investigators combined digital forensic techniques, intelligence gathering and information obtained from multiple sources to trace the suspect’s whereabouts. Mohasin was arrested on 8 July and subsequently produced before a court, which ordered that he be sent to jail pending further legal proceedings.

Investigating officer Roni Debnath said the accused was presented before the court after his arrest and later gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. According to the investigating officer, the suspect admitted responsibility for killing his wife during that judicial confession. Such statements are recorded before a magistrate and form part of the legal process, although the court ultimately determines their evidential value during trial.

Ayesha Ara Jahan, Additional Superintendent of Police at the PBI’s Munshiganj district unit, said the preliminary investigation indicates that prolonged domestic disputes appear to have been the principal motive behind the alleged killing. She added that investigators are examining every aspect of the case before submitting a comprehensive investigation report to the court.

Law enforcement officials note that incidents of domestic violence can escalate over time when unresolved marital conflict, mistrust and emotional strain remain unaddressed. They stress that prompt legal intervention, impartial investigation and careful examination of all available evidence are essential to establishing the facts and ensuring accountability through the judicial process. The investigation into the case remains ongoing.