A Dhaka court has granted four days’ remand for Obaidur Rahman, maternal uncle of Mariam Akter, the second wife of Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam, in a case filed over her death.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ripon Hossain passed the order on Thursday after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. State lawyer Harun-or-Rashid confirmed the development.
Obaidur was produced before the court on the day, following his arrest in connection with the case. During the hearing, state lawyer Omar Faruk Faruqi argued that investigators needed to establish whether Mariam’s death was a suicide or whether there was any criminal involvement behind it.
The prosecution sought custody of Obaidur for questioning, saying that interrogation could help clarify the circumstances surrounding Mariam’s death and the roles allegedly played by those named in the case.
Obaidur’s lawyer, Golam Saber Chowdhury, opposed the remand petition and sought bail for his client. He argued that the earlier questioning of Gazi Nazrul had not produced evidence implicating Obaidur in the alleged abetment of suicide. He also maintained that although Obaidur may have been involved as a witness in the marriage, that did not establish any role in encouraging or forcing Mariam to take her own life.
The court, after hearing both sides, granted four days’ remand.
Obaidur had been sent to jail on 23 September after his arrest. On 28 September, Detective Branch inspector Mohammad Salauddin of the Tejgaon zonal team sought five days’ remand for him as part of the investigation.
Mariam’s body recovered from NAM Bhaban flat
Mariam was found hanging inside a flat at NAM Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, on 20 September. Police recovered her body from Flat 203 on the third floor of Building 5, located opposite the Parliament complex on Manik Mia Avenue.
Following the death, Mariam’s father, Mohammad Masum Billah, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station alleging abetment of suicide. Gazi Nazrul Islam, his first wife Maksuda Islam and Obaidur Rahman were named as accused.
According to the case statement, Gazi Nazrul married Mariam in June in accordance with Islamic Sharia. As Gazi Nazrul was serving as a member of parliament, Mariam and his first wife, Maksuda, were living with him at the NAM Bhaban residence.
The case alleges that Obaidur had played a direct role in facilitating the marriage between Gazi Nazrul and Mariam. It further alleges that after the marriage, Mariam was subjected to physical and mental abuse over various matters by Gazi Nazrul and Maksuda.
These allegations are part of the case record and remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.
What happened on the day of Mariam’s death?
The case statement says that at around 5.30pm on 20 September, Gazi Nazrul called Mariam’s father and asked him to come to the residence quickly.
When he arrived, several people were reportedly present at the flat. He was then informed that Mariam was hanging from a ceiling fan inside a room, with a scarf wrapped around her neck.
The police were called and, with their assistance, the door was broken open. Mariam’s body was subsequently recovered from the room. A handwritten note was also reportedly found on the bed, according to the case statement.
The circumstances surrounding the note, the events leading up to Mariam’s death and the conduct of the people who were present at the residence are among the issues being examined as part of the investigation.
Earlier court proceedings
The case has already seen several rounds of court proceedings involving the three accused.
Following their arrests, Maksuda was granted one day’s remand on 21 September. She was sent to jail after the remand period ended on 22 September.
Gazi Nazrul was also taken into custody for questioning. After two rounds of remand totalling eight days, he was sent to jail on 28 September.
A subsequent development came on 30 September, when Masum Billah appeared before the court and submitted an affidavit stating that the parties had reached a settlement. He told the court that he had no objection if the accused were granted bail.
Following the hearing, the court granted bail to Maksuda. Gazi Nazrul, however, was denied bail.
The latest remand order concerning Obaidur means investigators will now have four days to question him about the events surrounding Mariam’s death and the allegations made in the case.
At this stage, the allegations against the accused have not been established by a court. The investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings will determine what happened before Mariam’s death and whether anyone can be held criminally responsible for it.
