Man to die for killing wife for dowry

A Gazipur court has sentenced a man to death in absentia on charges of beating his wife to death over demand for dowry in 2011.

District Judge of Woman and Child Repression Control Tribunal Fatema Nazib passed the order on Wednesday.

The convicted was identified as Mohammad Faruk, a carpenter and son of Yunus Chulder of Kishoredia village of Rajoir Upazila in Madaripur district.

Special Public Prosecutor Mohammad Shahjahan told reporters that the convict had been on the run after securing bail from the trial court.

According to the case details, Faruk attacked wife Salma Begum, 34, with a brick which caused her to death at Ershadnagar, a colony for the destitute, in Tongi on Oct 19, 2011.

Salma’s mother filed a lawsuit with the Tongi Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Control Tribunal over the murder.

The police had arrested Faruk, but he has been on run after securing bail from the court three months ago.

The relatives said that after their marriage, Faruk used to stay at the house of his in-laws and that he killed Salma for failing to get land's ownership as dowry.

Special Public Prosecutor Mohammad Shahjahan said that the couple had two sons – Mohammad Sakib, 8, and Mohammad Rakib, 16.

The two sons also testified against their father at the hearing.

The court recorded deposition from seven witnesses.

Advocate Zakir Hossain of Gazipur Judge Court argued for the accused at the hearing.