Husband Sentenced to Death for Wife’s Murder Nine Years Ago

A Dhaka court has sentenced a man to death for murdering his wife nearly nine years ago in the capital’s Madhya Badda area, bringing an end to a lengthy trial that began after the fatal incident in October 2017.

The court also fined the convict, Monir Hossain, Tk 100,000. Dhaka’s Sixth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Md Sadekin Habib, delivered the verdict on Tuesday.

Monir was brought to the courtroom from prison before the verdict was announced. Following the pronouncement, the court issued a warrant for his sentence and ordered that he be returned to prison, according to officials familiar with the proceedings.

The prosecution welcomed the judgement. Additional Public Prosecutor Mohammad Habibur Rahman said the verdict marked the conclusion of a long-running and closely watched murder case and expressed satisfaction with the death sentence handed down to the accused.

According to court records and the case statement, Monir married Shakir Khatun Soma in 2003, and the couple had a daughter. The prosecution alleged that Soma was subjected to physical and mental abuse after Monir and members of his family began demanding money from her family in connection with his business.

Soma’s family reportedly gave Monir Tk 1.1 million at different times, but the demands for additional money allegedly continued. The prosecution said the abuse also persisted despite the financial assistance provided by Soma’s relatives.

In February 2017, after a period of alleged abuse, Soma was sent to her father’s home. Monir later brought her back, reportedly assuring her family that she would not face further mistreatment. The prosecution case, however, alleged that the abuse did not stop after her return.

On the afternoon of 6 October that year, Soma and Monir reportedly became involved in an argument over money at their home in Madhya Badda. During the dispute, Monir allegedly attacked Soma with a knife, injuring her in the throat.

Hearing her cries, neighbours rushed to the scene and rescued her before taking her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Doctors on duty declared her dead after she was brought to the hospital.

On the same day, Soma’s mother, Mosammat Akhtar Banu, filed a murder case with Badda Police Station. Police subsequently arrested Monir. During the investigation and subsequent court proceedings, he also gave a confessional statement before the court.

Badda Police submitted the charge sheet to the court on 7 December 2017, approximately two months after the murder. The court formally framed charges against Monir on 17 May 2018 and ordered the trial to begin.

The case proceeded through a lengthy judicial process. Of the 20 witnesses listed in the case, 15 ultimately gave evidence before the court.

Monir had remained on bail for a considerable period during the trial. After the conclusion of arguments on 14 July, the court fixed Tuesday for delivering the verdict and cancelled his bail on the same day, ordering him to be sent to prison.

The death sentence now brings the trial court stage of the case to a close. As with other capital punishment cases in Bangladesh, the verdict remains subject to the legal process available to the convicted person under the country’s judicial system.