Comilla University Student Farzana Found Hanging; Husband Taken Into Police Custody

PNN News Desk | Narayanganj

Police recovered the hanging body of Farzana Islam, a student in the Pharmacy Department of Comilla University, from her husband's residence in the Signboard area of Narayanganj on Saturday night. The body was recovered at around 11 p.m. on October 24. Her husband, Nazmul Islam, has been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the incident.

Farzana was an undergraduate student in the 2019–20 academic session and a postgraduate student in the 2024–25 academic session in the university's Department of Pharmacy. Her husband, Nazmul, was a student in the same department from the 2016–17 academic session.

Police initially suspect that Farzana may have died by suicide. However, they have said that the actual cause of death cannot be determined until the post-mortem examination report is available.

Farzana's family has alleged that Nazmul subjected her to physical and psychological abuse after their marriage. In December last year, she reportedly left her husband's residence and returned to her parental home after being assaulted. She subsequently filed a case against her husband under laws relating to violence against women.

According to the family, members of Nazmul's family later requested that the case be withdrawn, promising that Farzana would not face further abuse. Following a family-level settlement between the two sides, steps were taken to withdraw the case. Farzana's family now alleges that she was deliberately killed after the withdrawal of the case was confirmed. However, the outcome of the police investigation into this allegation is not yet known.

Farzana's brother, Ariful Islam, said she had married Nazmul, a senior student in the same department, approximately three years ago. He alleged that she had been subjected to abuse over various issues since the marriage. He also claimed that between Tk 500,000 and Tk 700,000 had been taken from Farzana's family on different occasions.

According to Ariful, Nazmul was initially unemployed. After securing a job, however, his demands for money allegedly increased. Ariful claimed that pressure to provide money was accompanied by continued abuse of his sister.

Ariful said he spoke with Farzana at around 6 p.m. on the day of the incident and did not notice anything unusual in her conversation. He added that Farzana had also bought chips and soft drinks for dinner that evening. However, between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., he received a phone call informing him of her death.

Ariful further said that the previous afternoon, Nazmul's brother-in-law had called him to ask whether the case had been withdrawn. Ariful replied that it had been withdrawn and that, to his knowledge, the relevant documents had also been obtained. The family alleges that Farzana was killed after confirmation of the case's withdrawal.

Sub-Inspector Gazi Sumon Mahtab of Fatullah Police Station said officers arrived at the scene and found Farzana hanging. Her husband had been taken into custody for questioning. Although the incident initially appeared to be a case of suicide, he said the cause of death could not be confirmed until the post-mortem report was received.

The difference between the family's allegations and the police's preliminary assessment has made the post-mortem examination and the investigation particularly important. The actual cause of Farzana's death, as well as whether anyone else was involved, will have to be established through the investigation.