Mystery over death of BNP leader Maruf Kamal’s wife

Mystery shrouds over the death of BNP central leader Maruf Kamal’s wife. Maruf Kamal is the press secretary of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Tania Khan, 50, wife of Maruf Kamal, was rushed to the Burn and Plastic Surgery unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with burn injuries on Thursday. A day after the incident, doctors declared her dead on Friday night. She was buried at her native village at Sariakandi in Bogra on Saturday. The Dhaka Tribune found different quotations from police, Maruf’s family and Tania’s family which creates mystery over the death. Maruf’s family claimed that Tania was mentally sick. She committed suicide by pouring kerosene on her body at her residence in Adabor area of Dhaka on Thursday. On the other hand, Tania’s family alleged that Maruf’s family members first killed her and then torched her body. Tania was rushed to DMCH after the incident where she breathed her last. Maruf Kamal received Tania’s body after post-mortem. Sheikh Shahinur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Adabor police station, said that Tania was burnt by the fire of gas oven. “Whether it was murder or suicide, it will be revealed after receiving the post-mortem report,” he added. Maruf’s family lodged an unnatural death case with Adabor police station in this connection when Tania’s family claimed she was killed by family members of Maruf. On June 13, 2014, Tania lodged an attempt to murder case with the same police station against Maruf alleging that he had illicit relationships with multiple ladies and he tortured Tania on a regular basis and gave life threats. Maruf Kamal could not be reached though the Dhaka Tribune repeatedly tried to establish contact with him over mobile phone.