Journalist Suborna Nodi may have been killed by hired criminals over filing of a dowry case against her former husband and in-laws, police said after primary investigation.

In connection with the murder, police yesterday arrested her ex-father-in-law Abul Hossain, owner of Indigenous Drugs Laboratories, an ayurvedic medicine producer, and managing director of Shimla Diagnostic Centre in Pabna. 

Journalists and different organisations condemned the murder of Nodi and demanded justice.  

Criminals hacked Nodi, 30, Pabna correspondent of Ananda TV, to death when she was entering her home in Pabna town around 10:00pm on Tuesday. She died at Pabna Medical College Hospital around 10:30pm.

Victim's elder sister Chompa Khatun said, “My sister got married with Rajib Hossain, son of Abul Hossain, on June 6, 2016, but Rajib's family did not accept the marriage.

“Rajib's family tortured her and demanded Tk 5 lakh in dowry. As she couldn't give the money, she was divorced. My sister then filed a dowry case against Rajib, his father and mother on May 31 in 2017.”

After the case was lodged with Sadar Police Station, Rajib's family often threatened her sister over the phone with consequences if she did not withdraw the case, Chompa alleged.

Gautam Kumar Biswas, additional superintendent of Pabna police, said Nodi's mother Morzina Begum filed a murder case against Abul, his son Rajib and four to five unknown others.

Nodi may have been killed by hired criminals over the dowry case, but the killers are yet to be identified. Police are investigating the incident to find the real culprits, he said.

Obaidul Haque, officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station, said police arrested Abul from his house in Pabna town yesterday morning and were trying to detain the other accused.

Nodi started working at a local daily five years ago. Recently, she joined Ananda TV as its Pabna correspondent, her family said.

She was first married with one Jibon Chowdhury, but they separated five years ago. Nodi has a seven-year-old daughter.

Nodi had a dream of building her career in journalism and wanted to live with dignity, but she was killed, said her mother Morzina.

Journalists in Pabna formed a human chain, organised by Pabna Sangbadpatra Parishad, in front of Pabna Press Club yesterday morning, demanding punishment of the culprits.

“If the criminals are not arrested within 48 hours, journalists will go for tougher agitation,” Abdul Matin Khan, president of the parishad, said at the human chain.

Journalists in Noakhali also formed a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner's office, demanding immediate arrest of her killers.

Meanwhile, the information ministry, National Human Rights Commission, Ain o Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Sammiltosamajik Andolon and a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists denounced the killing of Nodi and demanded that the culprits be brought to book.

The two journalist platforms will hold a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club today, protesting the killings and attacks on journalists and demanding arrest of culprits.