Police have formally arrested Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam and his first wife, Maksuda Begum, in a case filed over the alleged abetment of suicide following the death of his second wife, Mariam Khatun, in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Md Ibne Mizan confirmed the arrests at around 1am on Monday, following the incident on Sunday evening.
According to police, the case was filed at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station by Mohammad Masum Billah, the father of Mariam Khatun. Gazi Nazrul Islam, Maksuda Begum and Obaidullah, identified as the MP’s brother-in-law, have been named as the three accused in the case.
The development came after police recovered the hanging body of 19-year-old Mariam Khatun from a flat at the National Assembly Members’ (NAM) Bhaban complex in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Sunday evening.
Police said Mariam’s body was found in Flat 203 on the third floor of Building 5 of the complex. Officers went to the scene after receiving information about the incident and began an initial investigation.
A forensic team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was subsequently called to examine the scene and collect relevant evidence. Police prepared an inquest report before sending the body to a hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.
Following the recovery of the body, police took Gazi Nazrul Islam and Maksuda Begum into custody for questioning. They were later shown arrested in the abetment case filed by Mariam’s father.
The circumstances surrounding Mariam’s death are now under investigation. Police are expected to examine the forensic findings, post-mortem report, evidence collected from the flat and statements from people connected with the incident as part of the inquiry. The allegations made in the case will have to be established through the legal process.
The death comes against the backdrop of controversy surrounding Gazi Nazrul Islam and Mariam Khatun in recent months. In July, several videos described as showing private moments involving the MP and Mariam circulated on social media, triggering widespread discussion.
Gazi Nazrul Islam subsequently identified Mariam as his second wife. The controversy surrounding the videos and his personal life drew considerable attention in political and social circles.
On 22 July, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami expelled Gazi Nazrul Islam from the party. The party said an organisational investigation had found what it described as moral misconduct and that action was taken under Article 62 of its constitution. The party also informed the Election Commission about the decision.
The latest case has now brought renewed scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding Mariam’s death. Police have not yet reached a final conclusion about what led to her death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
As the case proceeds, the post-mortem findings and forensic evidence are expected to play an important role in determining the circumstances of the incident and guiding further legal action.
