Ikra’s death: Actor Alvi’s bail petition denied

The victim’s father alleges that she was "driven" to suicide due to long-standing "family disputes and different forms of abuse”

A Dhaka court has rejected the bail application of television actor Niamot Ullah Bhuiyan, popularly known as Zaher Alvi, in a case filed over the death of his wife Afra Ibnat Ikra, whose hanging body was found at their house in Mirpur.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Shahjahan Kabir rejected the bail application after hearing it on Monday, state lawyer Harun Or Rashid confirmed.

Alvi's lawyer Sheikh Robayet Islam petitioned the court for bail, while Harun opposed the motion.

On Jun 18, Alvi had surrendered to the court and applied for bail. However, the court rejected the bail application that day and ordered him to be sent to jail.

Police petitioned the court to question Alvi in their custody on Jun 21. The hearing was scheduled for Jun 21.

Afterwards, the court remanded Alvi to police custody for questioning for two days. Following that period, he returned to jail on Jun 30.

Alvi’s mother Nasrin Sultana, another suspect in the case, had surrendered to the court and secured bail on Jun 4.

Ikra was found hanging from a ceiling fan by her “Orna”, or scarf, at the family's DOHS home in Pallabi around 11:45am on Feb 28.

Family members rushed her to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police later arrived at the hospital to record the inquest report and collected evidence from the flat.

Her father Kabir Hayat Khan filed a case that same night, alleging Ikra had been driven to take her own life by prolonged family conflict and different forms of abuse.