MP Nazrul, first wife in police custody over second wife’s death

Gazi Nazrul Islam, a lawmaker from the Satkhira-4 constituency, and his first wife, Maksuda, have been taken into police custody following the recovery of the hanging body of his 19-year-old second wife, Mariam Khatun, from a flat at NAM Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Gazi Nazrul was taken into custody from the MP Hostel and his first wife from the flat concerned on Sunday (September 20) night.

Mohammad Ibn-e-Mizan, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Tejgaon Division, confirmed the matter around 10pm. He said it would be determined after investigation whether Mariam’s death was a murder or suicide. Alongside the police, the CID’s Crime Scene Unit also worked at the scene as part of the investigation.

Earlier in the evening, police recovered Mariam’s body from Flat 203 on the third floor of Building 5 at NAM Bhaban. Police said she was found hanging inside the flat. After an inquest, the body was sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Police said several aspects were being examined to determine the actual cause of Mariam’s death. In particular, if the incident turns out to be suicide, investigators are also looking into whether anyone had instigated or abetted her to take her own life. Police sources said Gazi Nazrul and his first wife were being questioned in this regard.

Gazi Nazrul’s marriage to Mariam became public in July this year. Earlier, a video showing Gazi Nazrul in a private moment with a young woman had circulated on social media, prompting widespread discussion. Gazi Nazrul later said the woman in the video was his second wife, Mariam Khatun.

On July 22, Gazi Nazrul Islam was expelled from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The party said organizational action had been taken against him over allegations of moral misconduct. Recent reports said that despite his expulsion, he continued to serve as the MP for the Satkhira-4 constituency.