Wife’s death staged as suicide: PBI

A man allegedly beat his wife to death and attempted to pass off the killing as suicide in the capital’s Khilkhet area, according to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).

The accused, Sohel Sikder, reportedly confessed to his involvement in the death of his wife, Mukta Islam Mawa, during questioning and subsequently gave a statement before a Dhaka court on 14 October.

Mawa, a mother of two, was found dead at the couple’s rented residence in Nikunja under Khilkhet police station on 3 September, with a scarf wrapped around her neck. Initially, her family filed a case alleging abetment of suicide. However, a subsequent investigation by the PBI uncovered evidence suggesting that she had been killed and her death staged to appear as suicide.

According to investigators, Sohel allegedly assaulted Mawa on the morning of 3 September, causing her death. He then reportedly hung her body by the neck and claimed that she had taken her own life.

PBI Sub-Inspector Firoz Ahmed Munshi, the investigating officer, said the accused had given a confessional statement before a magistrate following two days of questioning in police custody.

“I questioned the accused, Sohel, during two days’ remand. He voluntarily confessed in court and gave a statement. Nothing can be said about the case just yet.

The investigation continues within the law. Much will become clear once the post-mortem report is received. Operations to arrest the other accused in this case are continuing,” he told Agamir Somoy.

Police initially arrested Sohel on 4 September, a day after Mawa’s body was recovered, and produced him before a court, which sent him to jail.

On 8 September, Khilkhet Police Station Sub-Inspector Rajib Bhowmik sought five days’ remand to question him in connection with the incident.

Following the initial remand proceedings, Sohel was produced before the court again on 17 September.
Investigators said he disclosed important information about the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death during questioning. The case was subsequently transferred to the PBI for further investigation.

On 28 September, PBI Sub-Inspector Firoz Ahmed Munshi applied for seven days’ remand to interrogate Sohel again. After hearing the application, the court granted two days’ remand.

During the subsequent interrogation, Sohel reportedly admitted his involvement and agreed to provide a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin recorded his statement on 14 October.
According to the case statement, Mawa married Sohel approximately seven years ago, and the couple had two children.

Following their marriage, they lived in a rented house in the Nikunja area of the capital.
The case alleges that tensions developed between the couple after Sohel’s brother-in-law, Ashik Hossain, began living with them.

Disputes over the living arrangement reportedly led to repeated incidents of physical and psychological abuse against Mawa.

On 30 August, just days before her death, Sohel allegedly assaulted her severely, leaving injuries on different parts of her body.

On 3 September, police recovered her body from the rented residence with an orna (scarf) wrapped around her neck.

Following the incident, Mawa’s brother, Tanvir Rahman, filed a case alleging abetment of suicide.
The case named Sohel Sikder, his nephew Alif Hossain, his brother-in-law Md Bashir and his sister Kajol Begum as accused.

Although the case was initially treated as an alleged suicide-related offence, the PBI investigation has raised suspicions of homicide, with investigators relying on the suspect’s reported confession and other evidence collected during the inquiry.

The investigating officer said the final post-mortem report would be crucial in establishing the medical cause of death and determining the subsequent course of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the PBI is continuing its investigation and conducting operations to arrest the other accused named in the case.