Shova Murder in Barisal
Charges pressed against husband
Police on Wednesday submitted charge sheet against an official accusing him of killing wife Nazma Zahir Shova.
Accused Zahirul Islam, Executive Engineer of Relief and Disaster Management Ministry was working on deputation in a bridge construction project of World Bank at Sidr-affected Barguna.
Sub Inspector Anwar, investigation officer of the case, said Abdul Malek, assistant manager of Hotel Ali International, was also accused in the charge sheet of helping the killer to conceal evidences. Malek allegedly ordered to stop the operation of CCTV camera of the hotel.
The charge sheet was submitted under Sections 302 and 109 of the Penal Code against the two accused before the Barisal Sadar Judicial Magistrate Court, said the IO.
Magistrate Sharif Mohammad Sanaul Huq accepting the charge sheet fixed May 22 next for framing charges and starting trial against the two now detained in Barisal central jail.
Nilufar Irene Jhuma, a sister of the victim, lodged the murder case without mentioning any name of accused on February 16, 2010.
The IO said the couple was a regular customer of the hotel and often rented the VVIP room on fourth floor for them whenever the engineer visited Barisal for his work.
On February 5, 2010 they came and registered their names as usual for that room for 15 days giving the address of Dhanmondi Road-6/2A House 3/A.
Engineer Zahir, like other days, left the hotel at 5:00 am on February 15 for supervising bridge construction project funded by World Bank in Barguna district but this time allegedly slaughtering his wife Nazma in the hotel room.
Hotel authorities opened the room with duplicate key at about 10:30am on February 15 as Nazma did not come out for taking breakfast despite several knockings on the door. She also did not respond to the cell phone calls.
They called police after they found the slaughtered body of Nazma lying on her bed covered with bed sheet in the room.
Nazira Zahir Linda, only daughter of the couple, is a Bar-at-Law student in an Australian university.
The investigation officer of the case said the charge sheet was made on the basis of the confessional statement of engineer Zahir before the magistrate regarding the murder of his wife.
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