Jewel Hasan Saddam, a local leader of the banned organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), returned home on Wednesday night, five days after the tragic deaths of his wife and nine-month-old son.
Upon reaching his home in Sabekdanga village of Karapara Union under Bagerhat Sadar Upazila, he immediately went to the graveyard to visit the graves of his wife and child.
Accompanied by his father-in-law Ruhul Amin Howlader, brother-in-law Shahnewaz Amin Shuvo, and other relatives, Saddam offered prayers for the departed souls.
During an emotional prayer while touching the soil of the graves, Saddam wept and described himself as an “unfortunate husband and father” who never had the chance to hold his son.
He also pleaded for justice, stating, “If my wife was a victim of murder, then arrange for justice through a correct investigation.”
The bodies of his wife, Kaniz Suborna Swarnali, and their son, Nazim, were recovered by police from their home on 23 January while Saddam was in prison. Swarnali’s body was found hanging, while the nine-month-old infant was found lifeless next to her.
At the time of the incident, police and Saddam’s family suggested that Swarnali might have committed suicide after killing the child due to depression.
Saddam was denied parole to attend the funeral of his wife and son. Instead, on the evening of 24 January, relatives took the bodies in an ambulance to the Jessore Central Jail gate, where authorities allowed him only five minutes to view his deceased family members.
Speaking to local journalists after the grave visit on Wednesday night, Saddam alleged that the deaths might be a “planned murder.” He suggested that his wife might have lost hope of his release after he was transferred to Jessore jail.
“I was granted bail in exchange for the lives of my wife and child,” he said, while maintaining his innocence regarding the charges against him. He further urged the authorities to reduce the interval for family visits in jail from 15 days to seven days.
Saddam was released from Jessore Central Jail at 2pm on Wednesday. His release followed a six-month bail granted by a High Court bench on Monday.
