MP Nazrul's second wife's death: Mariam's uncle sent to 4-day remand

A Dhaka court today (1 October) granted a four-day remand for Obaidur Rahman, maternal uncle of Mariam, the second wife of Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam, in a case filed over allegations of abetment of her suicide.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ripon Hossain passed the order after a hearing, state prosecutor Harun-or-Rashid said.

On 28 September, investigating officer Mohammad Salauddin, an inspector with the Detective Branch's Tejgaon division, sought a five-day remand for Obaidur. The court then set 1 October for the hearing in the presence of the accused.

Defence lawyer Golam Saber Chowdhury sought cancellation of the remand and bail, while the state prosecutor opposed the plea.

According to the remand petition, Obaidur, 38, is Mariam's maternal uncle and Gazi Nazrul Islam's driver.

The petition said Gazi Nazrul had developed a close relationship with Mariam's family through regular visits and overnight stays at their home and had spoken with Obaidur on several occasions. Nazrul also regularly spoke to Mariam over the phone and took her to different places, it said.

Obaidur also used to visit the flat at the National Assembly Members' Hostel (NAM) complex where Mariam lived. He and other unidentified accused took Mariam and Gazi Nazrul to different places in Dhaka on various occasions, according to the petition.

The investigation found local evidence suggesting Obaidur's involvement in Mariam's suicide, the petition said. It also said he had been involved with Nazrul in various matters even before Mariam's marriage and had taken part in arrangements for the marriage.

Police sought his remand for detailed questioning to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensure a proper investigation, according to the petition.

During the hearing, the state prosecutor said some video footage involving Mariam and the first accused had emerged through Obaidur and described it as the starting point of the incident.

He also said Obaidur was a witness to the marriage-related proceedings, including the oral marriage and its subsequent registration.

The defence lawyer argued that Obaidur was primarily Mariam's maternal uncle, rather than simply the MP's driver. He said Obaidur had objected to what he described as inappropriate conduct by the first accused and had intervened in his capacity as Mariam's maternal uncle.

The lawyer also claimed that Obaidur had previously filed an attempted murder case against the first accused and several others and was implicated in the present case because of that. He denied Obaidur's involvement in Mariam's death.

After hearing both sides, the court granted a four-day remand.

Obaidur was arrested in Dhaka on 23 September and sent to jail the following day.

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

That night, police took MP Gazi Nazrul Islam and his first wife, Maksuda Islam, into custody. Later that night, Mariam's father, SM Masum Billah, filed a case accusing Gazi Nazrul Islam, his first wife Maksuda Islam and Mariam's maternal uncle Obaidur Rahman of abetting her suicide.