Body reaches home after 43 days

The body of a Bangladeshi woman, who was killed allegedly by her husband in Malaysia at the beginning of last month, arrived in Patuakhali yesterday, after 43 days.

Sajeda-e-Bulbul, 29, was buried at Patuakhali Muslim Graveyard after a namaz-e-janaza held at Patuakhali Boro Jam-e Mosque.

The body of Sajeda, daughter of Anisur Rahman from Adalatpara area in Patuakhali town, was cut into seven pieces allegedly by her husband Shahjada on July 5. Then he packed the body in a suitcase and dumped it in a forest.

Police recovered the body and informed a relative of Bulbul in Malaysia, who identified the victim.

The relative then informed Sajeda's family in Patuakhali, said Bulbul's mother Momotaj Begum.

Momotaj had said she requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take steps to bring back the body of her daughter.

Victim's sister Khadija Parvin Upama said Shahjada often tortured her sister for dowry. Sajeda had filed a case in this regard with Shah Ali Police Station in Dhaka, she added.

Shahjada then took Sajeda and their daughter to Malaysia on December 3, 2016, saying she could get higher education there, but he continued to torture her, Upama said, adding that Sajeda told her family members about the matter over telephone.

Shahjada fled his residence after the incident along with their daughter Mugdho, a first-grader, she said

Later on July 16, Bangladesh police rescued Mugdho, 7, from Shahjada's village home in Andua village of Mirzaganj upazila in Patuakhali and handed her over to her maternal grandparents, said Upama.

Malaysian police arrested Shahjada on July 25 and he was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries a mandatory death penalty in the court there, said Upama.

Shahjada married Sajeda on April 25 in 2004, said Upama, adding that he worked as a superviser at a shopping mall.

Sajeda passed SSC examinations from Patuakhali Government Girls School and obtained LLB and LLM degrees from Prime University, Upama said.