The High Court has granted bail to actor Zaher Alvi, also known as Md Niamat Ullah Bhuiyan, in a case filed over the alleged abetment of his wife Afra Ibnath Khan Ikra’s suicide, clearing the way for his release from jail.
A High Court bench comprising Justice K M Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher passed the order on Sunday after making absolute a previously issued rule on his bail.
Zaher Alvi was sent to jail on June 30 after being produced before a Dhaka court following a two-day remand. Police requested that he be kept in custody until the investigation was completed, and Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid granted the request.
Earlier, on June 18, the actor surrendered before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin through his lawyer and sought bail. The court rejected his petition and ordered his imprisonment.
On June 21, the investigating officer sought a seven-day remand for further investigation. After a hearing on June 24, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Al Biruni Mir granted a two-day remand.
According to the case statement, Ikra was found hanging at her residence in the Mirpur DOHS area of Dhaka on February 28. She was taken to Kurmitola General Hospital where doctors declared her dead.
The following day, her father Kabir Hayat Khan, filed a case with Pallabi Police Station, alleging that prolonged family disputes and sustained mental abuse had driven his daughter to take her own life.
Alvi and Ikra married in 2010 and have a son.