RU Student Sifat: Husband jailed for provoking suicide

A Dhaka court yesterday sentenced the husband of Rajshahi University student Wahida Sifat to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment for provoking her to commit suicide in March 2015.

Judge Sayeed Ahmed of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-3 handed down the verdict in presence of convict Mohammad Asif at a crowded courtroom.

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Sifat's parents expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, said Sifat's sister-in-law Gulshan Nehar Rita.

The students of journalism and mass communication of Rajshahi University also formed a human chain on the campus to vent their anger at the verdict, reports our staff correspondent in Rajshahi.   

The court acquitted Asif's parents -- Md Hossain Ramjan and Najmun Nahar Nazil -- and Dr Jubaidur Rahman, assistant professor, forensic department of Rajshahi Medical College, as the charges brought against them were not proved.

The court also expressed disappointment over the investigation by four investigation officers for their failure to unearth the facts of the case.

While delivering the verdict, Judge Ahmed said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges of torturing and killing Sifat for dowry.

But the charge brought against Asif of provoking his wife to commit suicide was undoubtedly proved and he was sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment for committing the offence.

The court has also fined him Tk 10,000, in default of which he would have to serve six more months in prison.

Sifat, who was a student of journalism and mass communication, was found dead at her in-laws' house in Mahishbathan area of Rajshahi city on March 29, 2015.

Her uncle Mizanur Rahman filed a murder case with Rajpara police accusing Sifat's husband, father-in-law and mother-in-law of torturing and killing her for dowry.

The police pressed charges against the trio and also included the name of Dr Jubaidur Rahman bringing allegation of preparing a false autopsy report.

The case was later handed over to the Speedy Trial Tribunal, which began the trial proceedings on November 11 last year.