Mohammad Manzur Sardar, who says he was present inside the flat when Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam’s second wife Mariam Khatun died, has described what he saw at the NAM Bhaban apartment.
Manzur spoke to journalists on Monday (September 21), detailing the events surrounding the incident. Star News Satkhira correspondent Gazi Farhad interviewed him in Shyamnagar.
Manzur, son of Jubbar Sardar of Sat Chokbera village in Gagura Union of Shyamnagar upazila, said he was at the scene on the day of Mariam’s death. He described himself as a distant nephew of Gazi Nazrul Islam.
According to Manzur, Gazi Nazrul called him on Sunday (September 20) and asked him to accompany him to court. After the court proceedings, they returned to the NAM Bhaban flat at around 3pm.
Manzur said another five or six people were with them. They ate in the guest room, while Gazi Nazrul had a separate meal with his two wives in another room.
A short while later, Manzur said, Gazi Nazrul came out quickly and asked him to go inside.
Manzur said he found the door of one room locked from the inside. They tried to open it but were unsuccessful.
They then went around to the back of the room and found a window open, he said. After moving aside the curtain and looking inside, they saw Mariam hanging there, according to Manzur.
He said something resembling cloth was wrapped around Mariam’s neck and attached to the ceiling fan. A chair and a plastic stool were also lying inside the room.
Manzur did not make any definitive comment about how the incident occurred.
He said that after determining whether Mariam was alive or dead, they decided not to break down the door or window and instead inform police and members of her family.
Police responsible for security in the Parliament area were informed first, and they subsequently alerted Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, Manzur said. Police later arrived at the flat and asked those present to leave the scene.
However, the witness’s account alone does not establish the actual cause or circumstances of Mariam’s death.
Mariam’s father, S M Masum Billah, said he believes his son-in-law Obaidullah bears greater responsibility for his daughter’s death.
Masum Billah alleged that Obaidullah had been taking his daughter outside the house and was involved in various matters surrounding the incident.
He said Mariam had been living in the NAM Bhaban flat after her marriage. Asked whether she had ever complained to him about problems or difficulties following the marriage, he said she had not made any such complaint.
Regarding some letters reportedly recovered from Mariam, Masum Billah said police showed them to him. However, he said he could not confirm whether the handwriting was Mariam’s because he was often away for business and was not familiar enough with her handwriting.
Police recovered Mariam Khatun’s hanging body from a flat at the NAM Bhaban under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka on Sunday evening.
Her father, Md Masum Billah, subsequently filed a case alleging abetment to suicide. Gazi Nazrul Islam, his first wife Maksuda Begum and Mariam’s brother-in-law Obaidullah were named as accused.
Police arrested Gazi Nazrul and Maksuda in connection with the case.
On Monday afternoon, a Dhaka court granted four days’ remand for Gazi Nazrul Islam and one day for Maksuda Begum in the case. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul passed the order after a hearing.
The allegations remain under investigation, and the circumstances surrounding Mariam Khatun’s death have not yet been conclusively established.
