Maternal uncle Obaidur on four-day remand

A Dhaka court on Thursday granted four days’ police remand for Obaidur Rahman, maternal uncle of deceased Mariam and driver of Satkhira-4 lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam, in a case filed over Mariam's alleged abetment to suicide.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ripon Hossain passed the order after a hearing, state prosecutor Harun-or-Rashid said.

Earlier, on 28 September, investigating officer Inspector Mohammad Salahuddin of the Detective Branch sought five days’ remand for Obaidur. The court later fixed Thursday for a hearing in the presence of the accused.

During Thursday’s hearing, defence lawyer Golam Saber Chowdhury sought cancellation of the remand plea and bail, while the prosecution opposed the defence pleas.

Arguing for remand, Harun-or-Rashid claimed some video footage involving Mariam and Gazi Nazrul had been released on social media through Obaidur, from which the incident originated. He also said that interrogating Obaidur was necessary as he was involved in the marriage and other circumstances surrounding the incident.

Defence lawyer Golam Saber, however, argued for cancellation of the remand and pleaded for bail, saying Obaidur was Mariam’s maternal uncle, not merely Nazrul’s driver, and had protested the alleged immoral activities.

He claimed Mariam’s parents had directly instigated the marriage and said Obaidur had no involvement in the alleged abetment. He also claimed that Obaidur was made an accused in the case because he had earlier filed an attempted murder case against Gazi Nazrul and several others.

Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi said taking him on remand was necessary to bring out the facts and determine whether Mariam was killed, committed suicide or was forced to commit suicide.

According to the remand petition, Obaidur used to visit the residence at NAM Bhaban and, along with other unidentified accused, allegedly took Mariam and her husband Nazrul to different places in Dhaka for visits.

The petition said local witnesses and evidence indicated Obaidur’s involvement in Mariam’s suicide, adding that he had been involved with Nazrul in various matters, including Mariam’s marriage.

Earlier, on the evening of 20 September, the hanging body of Gazi Nazrul’s second wife, Mariam, was recovered from a flat at NAM Bhaban in the capital. Later that night, police took Gazi Nazrul Islam and his first wife Maksuda into custody.

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Bail denied for Nazrul, granted to Maksuda

Mariam’s father, SM Masum Billah, filed a case that night accusing Gazi Nazrul Islam, his first wife Maksuda Islam and the deceased’s maternal uncle Obaidur Rahman of abetting suicide.

Gazi Nazrul has been remanded twice in the case, while his first wife was remanded once and secured bail in October.