MP Nazrul denied bail over fear of ‘adverse reaction’
Member of Parliament G.M. Nazrul Islam. File photo
Satkhira lawmaker and former Jamaat e Islami leader G.M. Nazrul Islam was denied bail despite reaching a settlement with his in laws in a case filed over allegations of abetting his second wife’s suicide.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam rejected his bail petition after a hearing on Wednesday.
Explaining the reason for the order, the judge said, “The accused is only elderly and has submitted a compromise in a case under a non compoundable section. But the victim was very young. She left behind several notes. The victim committed suicide while she was in the custody of the accused. The victim died while the accused was holding an important position in the state. If the accused is granted bail, there may be an adverse reaction in society. There may be an adverse perception about justice in society. The accused has not been in custody for long. At this stage, his bail is rejected.”
Nazrul was arrested the following day after the hanging body of his second wife Mariam Khatun was recovered from his flat in the residential area for members of parliament near Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on September 20. After two rounds of remand he is now in jail.
Nazrul’s first wife Maksuda Islam was also arrested in the case. She was granted bail. Another accused in the case, Mariam’s uncle Obaidur Rahman was arrested and remains in jail.
In July, after a video showing an intimate moment with Mariam was circulated, Nazrul announced his second marriage. He then began living with Mariam in a flat at a building in the residential area for members of parliament near Manik Mia Avenue.
Mariam was found hanging in a room of the flat. Several notes were also recovered there. The notes contained various statements blaming Nazrul. Police believe the writings were by Mariam.
Mariam’s father Md Masum Billah filed the case with Sher e Bangla Nagar Police Station that day. In his complaint, he alleged that Mariam married Nazrul at the direct instigation of her maternal uncle Obaidur. He alleged that Nazrul and his first wife had subjected Mariam to physical and mental abuse since the marriage.
On September 30, Nazrul’s lawyer Mahbubur Rahman told the court that a settlement had been reached with Mariam’s family. He said the complainant would have no objection if Nazrul was granted bail.
However, the court did not accept the bail petition filed on the basis of the settlement. State lawyers said that day that the case was not compoundable.
The complainant Masum Billah is Nazrul’s nephew. In that connection, Mariam was Nazrul’s granddaughter.
Mariam’s uncle Obaidur once worked as Nazrul’s driver. After the video was released in July, Obaidur filed a case against Nazrul accusing him of attempting to kill him.
Obaidur claimed that Mariam’s parents had married her to MP Nazrul. He said he had opposed the marriage at the time.
Following controversy after news of his second marriage emerged, Jamaat-e-Islami expelled Nazrul, the MP from Satkhira 4 constituency, from the party. However, he still remains a member of parliament.
