Imam Jailed After Wife’s Murder Confession

A mosque imam in Munshiganj has been sent to prison after police uncovered the circumstances surrounding the death of his wife, whom he is accused of killing before attempting to stage the incident as a suicide. Investigators say the suspect fled the scene with the couple’s four-year-old daughter after failing to hang the victim’s body.

The victim, Ayesha Akter, 28, was a resident of East Baligaon village under Baligaon Union in Tongibari Upazila of Munshiganj district. The accused, 32-year-old Mohasin Matubbar, served as the imam of the East Baligaon Jame Mosque and is originally from Bahara village in Muksudpur Upazila of Gopalganj district. The couple had a four-year-old daughter.

According to a press release issued by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), the couple had entered into an Islamic marriage and had been living for the past six months in a rented house owned by a local resident in East Baligaon. Investigators said marital tensions had persisted for some time after the husband allegedly learned that his wife had previously been married twice, a fact he believed had been concealed before their marriage. Police believe this issue frequently led to disputes between the couple.

Investigators reconstructed the events leading up to the killing through forensic evidence, witness statements and the accused’s own confession. On the evening of 5 July, after returning home following the Isha prayer, Mohasin reportedly became angry after seeing his wife wearing an old dress. An argument followed, during which he allegedly slapped her several times and tore her clothing.

The dispute escalated again the following morning, on 6 July, at around 10:30am. Police said Mohasin questioned his wife about why breakfast had not been prepared. She reportedly replied that she was suffering from a headache. This led to another heated argument, during which the accused allegedly verbally abused her over her previous marriages before assaulting her once again.

According to investigators, Mohasin then grabbed Ayesha by the throat and pushed her backwards. Her head struck a wooden platform inside the room, causing fatal injuries. Detectives believe she died at the scene.

Following the killing, police said the accused attempted to disguise the crime as a case of suicide by wrapping a scarf around the victim’s neck and trying to suspend the body. Unable to carry out the plan, he abandoned the body on the bed and fled with their young daughter.

The victim’s brother, Shamim Talukdar, later filed a murder case with Tongibari Police Station after the body was discovered.

A specialised investigation team from the Munshiganj unit of the Police Bureau of Investigation launched an operation using information technology and intelligence-based tracking. Within approximately 24 hours of the incident, officers identified the suspect’s movements and arrested Mohasin Matubbar on 8 July. He was subsequently produced before a court, which ordered that he be sent to jail pending further legal proceedings.

Investigators said the accused later gave a confessional statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, admitting his involvement in the killing. The investigating officer, Roni Debnath, confirmed that the confession included details of the fatal assault and the subsequent attempt to stage the death.

Additional Superintendent of Police Ayesha Ara Jahan of the PBI’s Munshiganj unit said preliminary findings indicate that the murder stemmed from prolonged domestic conflict between the couple. She added that investigators are continuing to examine all aspects of the case and gather further evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.

The case highlights the continuing concern over domestic violence in Bangladesh, where investigators frequently encounter attempts to disguise homicides as suicides. Law enforcement officials stress that forensic examinations, digital evidence and witness testimony remain critical in uncovering the true circumstances behind such deaths and ensuring that those responsible are brought before the courts.