Housewife 'murder' sparks protests in Jhenidah

Human rights activists, joined by women, brought out a procession in Jhenidah town on Thursday demanding trial of the killers of housewife Farzana Ahmed Nila. She was strangled at her husband's house on Wednesday and the body was hung from a ceiling fan. PHOTO: STAR

Farzana Ahmed Nila, wife of Tariqul Islam Palash in Jhenidah town, was killed in their house, according to autopsy report.

A four-member medical team of Jhenidah Sadar Hospital performed autopsy of her body and submitted the report on Wednesday.

The report says she was strangled and then hung from a ceiling fan.

Police are looking for Nila's husband but he is absconding.

The incident sparked protests by different organisations including Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR). It brought out a procession and held a rally in Jhenidah town on Thursday demanding arrest of the killers. The rally was addressed by, among others, BSEHR Executive Director Elina Khan, Abdus Sobhan Jehadi, Masud Ahmed Sanju.

“Now we are sure that it is a murder and we will know everything after arrest and interrogation of Palsah," Jhenidah Sadar thana OC Azizul Haq told this correspondent during a visit to the spot yesterday.

Nila's family also demanded arrest of Palash and his accomplices who helped him hang the body after murder.

"We have seen marks of shoes on the chair behind the hanging body. The chair was used to hang the body with the ceiling fan," a member of Nila's family said seeking anonymity.

"Palash was wearing a lungi and a ganzi, and no shoes.

"We saw two persons with Palash when we went to the spot within ten minutes of the phone call from Palash," the family member added.

According to police, Palsah was accused in a drug case several years ago.

Nila's family sources said Palash was a friend of Nila's brother Nehal Ahmed Sohel. He used to visit Nila's house. They were married in 1997.

They claimed that Polash used to torture Nila as she protested his 'extra-marital affairs'. The couple had an eight year-old son Angon.

Palash organised an NGO named Action in Development (AiD). He was its executive director.

Recently, Palash rented a house in the town and lived there with his family.

This correspondent tried to contact members of Polash's family but no one agreed to talk.

Police have locked the house rented by Polash where the incident took place. They will pray to court for attachment of the property.

After the killing, Nila's brother Nehal Ahmed Sohel filed a General Dairy (GD) with the Sadar thana. Now the GD will be turned into a murder case, police said.

"Investigation is going on and charge sheet will be submitted soon", said SI Matiar Rahman, investigation officer (IO) of the case.