The family of 19-year-old Mariyam Khatun, the second wife of Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam, has alleged that she suffered months of physical and mental abuse at the lawmaker’s NAM Bhaban residence before being found hanging there on Sunday, with relatives now questioning whether her death was suicide.
Mariyam’s father, SM Masum Billah, filed a case accusing Nazrul, his first wife Maksuda Islam and Mariyam’s maternal uncle Obaidur Rahman of abetting her suicide.
Police arrested Nazrul and Maksuda, while Obaidur remains at large.
A Dhaka court on Monday placed Nazrul on four days’ remand and Maksuda on one day’s remand for questioning over the death.
But outside the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College morgue on Monday, Mariyam’s grieving family went further, alleging she had been murdered and her body hung to make the death appear to be suicide.
No evidence establishing that allegation has yet been made public, and police are investigating the death.
Mariyam’s aunt, Shamsur Nahar Roksana, told Dhaka Tribune that she spoke with her niece almost every day and that Mariyam frequently cried while describing alleged verbal and physical abuse by Nazrul and Maksuda.
According to Roksana, Mariyam told her that life had become “unbearable”.
She alleged that both the MP and his first wife physically assaulted Mariyam.
“We suspect she was murdered and then hung,” Roksana said, naming Nazrul, Maksuda and Obaidur as those she believed responsible.
Mariyam’s uncle Mostasib made a similar allegation, claiming she had suffered physical and mental abuse before her death.
Her father, Masum Billah, said his daughter had carried “deep pain” and described the NAM Bhaban residence as “a prison for her”. He demanded a proper investigation and punishment for whoever was responsible.
Abuse alleged in case
The allegations of abuse also feature in the case filed by Mariyam’s father.
According to the FIR, Mariyam married Nazrul in June and subsequently lived with him and his first wife at Apartment 203 of NAM Building No 5, opposite the National Parliament.
Masum alleged that Mariyam had repeatedly told her family that Nazrul and Maksuda subjected her to physical and mental abuse following the marriage.
On Sunday at around 5:30pm, Nazrul called Masum and asked him to come to the apartment immediately, according to the case statement.
Masum arrived to find his daughter hanging inside the residence.
Police said the room had been locked from inside and was forced open, after which Mariyam was found hanging from a ceiling fan by her scarf. Investigators also recovered handwritten notes from her bed.
Police suspect the notes may have been written by Mariyam, but Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner Md Ibne Mizan said investigators would wait for a CID forensic examination before confirming the handwriting.
Masum said he could not confirm whether the notes were his daughter’s because he was unfamiliar with her handwriting.
The writings describe emotional distress, betrayal and anguish over sharing a husband.
One says the writer had trusted someone only to discover that person was on the “opposing” side of her struggle, while another reflects on loving a man who was already married.
MP, first wife remanded
Police produced Nazrul and Maksuda before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam on Monday, seeking seven days’ remand for both.
Investigating officer SI Shamsuzzoha Sarkar argued that the couple had been in the same residence when Mariyam died and that custodial interrogation was necessary to determine whether they had played any role in her death.
The defence opposed the request and sought bail, denying that either had any involvement.
After hearing both sides, the court granted four days’ remand for Nazrul and one day for Maksudah.
As he was leaving court, Nazrul rejected the allegations.
“The allegations brought against us are false. I was not at home at the time of the incident,” he told journalists.
Asked about Mariyam’s death, he said: “I know nothing about that.”
EC awaits Speaker’s letter
The Election Commission will act on the parliamentary seat of Nazrul, MP for Satkhira‑4, only after receiving formal communication from the Speaker of the National Parliament, Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said.
“We have not yet received any letter from the Speaker. Jamaat‑e‑Islami did inform us earlier that he had been expelled from the party,” Ahmed told reporters.
“The procedure dictates that the Parliament Secretariat must notify us. Our role is election management; subsequent steps fall under the Secretariat. Once the letter arrives, action will follow.”
Jamaat lawyer Shishir Monir reiterated the party’s position: “He is no longer associated with Jamaat. The State and Government of Bangladesh will take whatever action is required by law. Jamaat has no further statement.”
