Actor Zaher Alvi placed on two-day remand

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for television actor Zaher Alvi in a case filed over allegations that he abetted the suicide of his wife, Afra Ivnath Khan Ikra.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Albiruni Mir passed the order on Wednesday(June 24) after hearing arguments from both sides.

The development was confirmed by public prosecutor Harun Or Rashid.

Zaher Alvi, who is currently in jail, was produced before the court in connection with the case lodged at Pallabi Police Station. The investigation officer, Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Md. Abdul Malek of the Mirpur Division, sought a 10-day remand, arguing that further interrogation was necessary to uncover the circumstances surrounding the case. After the hearing, the court approved a two-day remand.

According to the remand petition, the actor allegedly subjected his wife to prolonged mental distress through a series of derogatory, provocative and emotionally abusive posts on social media.

Investigators also cited allegations that, while still married to Ikra, Alvi shared photographs with another woman on February 27 accompanied by comments that were deemed provocative and humiliating.

The investigation team told the court that questioning the actor was essential for gathering further evidence, uncovering the motive behind the incident and identifying other individuals linked to the case.

During the hearing, Zaher Alvi denied the allegations and maintained his innocence. Addressing the court, he said he was struggling to cope with the tragedy and insisted there had been no circumstances severe enough to drive his wife to take her own life.

“We were both mature individuals. Ours was a love marriage. Like any couple, we had disagreements, misunderstandings and occasional arguments, but nothing that could have led to such a tragic outcome,” he told the court.

Earlier, on June 18, Zaher Alvi surrendered before the court and sought bail. However, the court rejected his plea and ordered that he be sent to jail.

According to the case statement, Ikra’s hanging body was recovered from her residence in Mirpur DOHS on February 28. She was later taken to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. At the time of the incident, Zaher Alvi was reportedly in Nepal.

Later that night, Ikra’s father, Kabir Hayat Khan, filed a case with Pallabi Police Station, alleging that his daughter had been subjected to long-term mental harassment and domestic conflict, ultimately forcing her to take her own life. The complaint named Zaher Alvi and others as accused in a case of abetment to suicide.

Zaher Alvi and Afra Ivnath Khan Ikra were married in 2010 and have a son. The case remains under investigation.