RANGPUR, Jan 19, 2023 (BSS) - A court here today sentenced a husband to death for killing his 17th wife for non-payment of dowry in village Paulgarh of Pirganj upazila in the district 16 years ago.

 
Judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 of Rangpur M Ali Ahmed handed down the sentence in his courtroom in absentia of the convict.

 
The court acquitted another absconding accused Taskia Begum, 18th wife of the convict, as charges brought against her were not proved during the hearing of the case.

 
The convict is Abu Sayeed, son of Md. Azimuddin of village Paulgarh in Pirganj upazila of the district.

 
Prosecution says Abu Sayeed married Tanzina Khatun, daughter of Md. Tazim Uddin of village Anontorampur of the same upazila.

 
Tanzina’s father soon paid Taka 10,000 out of agreed Taka 25,000 as dowry to Sayeed after the marriage.

Sayeed continued to press Tanzina to bring the rest Taka 15,000 of the agreed dowry amount.
 
Under such a situation, Sayeed again married Taskia Begum as his 18th wife.

 
On February 8, 2007, husband Sayeed tortured Tanzina to death for not bringing the rest of the dowry money, left the body in a nearby paddy field and fled from the area.

 
The victim’s father filed a murder case with Pirganj police station of Rangpur in this connection accusing Sayeed and his 18th wife Taskia Begum on the next day.

 
After the investigation, Investigating Officer of the case and Sub-inspector of Pirganj police station Ziaul Haque submitted a charge sheet against accused Sayeed and Taskia to the court on July 13, 2007.

 
After the testimony and cross-examination of 14 witnesses in the case, the court found Sayeed guilty beyond any doubt and announced the verdict ordering to hang him till death.