Husband Sentenced to Life for Dowry Murder

In a harrowing case from Faridpur, a court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering his wife over a dowry dispute. The Faridpur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal delivered the verdict on Thursday, 12 March, holding 33-year-old Ahad Sheikh accountable for the death of his 25-year-old wife, Rubaiya Begum.

Alongside the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of 50,000 taka. Failure to pay this fine would result in an additional year of imprisonment. At the time of the verdict, the accused was present in court and was subsequently escorted under police supervision to the district jail.

Background of the Case

Ahad Sheikh, a resident of Ballabhdi village in Saltha Upazila, was married to Rubaiya Begum of Kagdi village in Madhardia Union, also within Saltha Upazila. The couple married in 2015 and had one daughter.

According to the charge sheet, three years into the marriage, Ahad demanded a dowry of 300,000 taka in order to travel to Saudi Arabia. Rubaiya’s family managed to pay only 100,000 taka initially. When they could not provide the remaining 200,000 taka, Ahad allegedly assaulted Rubaiya and ultimately murdered her by administering poison on 1 August 2018.

Rubaiya’s mother, 54-year-old Romesha Begum, filed a case against Ahad Sheikh, his mother, and three brothers under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act at Saltha Police Station.

Investigation and Trial

The case was investigated by Inspector Md. Aminuzzaman of the Faridpur District CID. Based on his investigation, a charge sheet was submitted to the tribunal on 23 June 2019, naming Ahad Sheikh and two of his brothers, Mohammad Sheikh (38) and Mahim Sheikh (34), as accused.

The prosecution confirmed that the evidence established Ahad’s guilt beyond doubt, while his brothers were acquitted.

Golam Rabbani, the public prosecutor, remarked: “This case highlights the grave social menace of dowry. Such practices are utterly unacceptable in a healthy society. Today’s verdict delivers justice and sets a precedent.”

Case Summary

The verdict has been widely regarded as a significant step in curbing dowry-related violence in Faridpur and serves as a stern warning against the continuation of such practices.