Actor Zaher Alvi turns himself in, but court sends him to jail over wife's 'suicide'

A Dhaka court has rejected bail for television actor Niamot Ullah Bhuian, popularly known as Zaher Alvi, sending him to jail over his wife's suspected suicide.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin passed the order on Thursday, said state counsel Harun or Rashid.

Alvi surrendered that day and applied for bail.

Dhaka Bar Association President Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan represented him at the hearing, while state counsel Harun and Bar Association Vice-President Abul Kalam Azad both opposed it.

The court rejected the application and ordered him to jail.

Alvi's wife Afra Ibnat Ikra's father was present during the hearing and was seen weeping.

On Feb 28, family members found Ikra hanged at the couple's Mirpur DOHS residence and took her to Kurmitola Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.

Police visited the hospital, completed an inquest report and collected evidence from the flat.

Ikra's father Kabir Hayat Khan filed the case on the day of the incident, alleging that prolonged family disputes and different forms of abuse had driven his daughter to take her own life.

Alvi was abroad at the time. His lawyer approached the High Court seeking an order that he not be arrested or harassed on his return.

The court ruled in the actor’s favour, and he flew back on Jun 5.

The day before, Alvi's mother Nasrin Sultana had surrendered before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah and been granted bail.