Two Victims of Husbands' Cruelty
One set afire, another immolates herself
Housewife Parul Begum, 22, set afire allegedly by dowry-greedy husband and in-laws at Shahjira village under Sharikal in Gournadi upazila of Barisal district on Sunday (DMCH), succumbed to her burn injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday noon.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Asma Begum, 31, wife of Monir Hossain of Kalaskathi under Bakerganj upazila of the district, died at DMCH, following her attempted self-immolation the previous day over alleged physical and mental torture by husband since he took a second wife three years ago.
Alamin Fakir, son of late Sattar Fakir of Shahjira village married Parul, daughter of Motalib Howladar of the same village, two and a half years ago taking more than one lakh taka in cash and kind as dowry, police quoted Parul's family members as saying.
Alamin and his family members recently demanded more Tk 50,000 as dowry and started torture on her as her family expressed their inability to give the amount, they said.
Following an altercation over the issue, husband and in-laws put kerosene and set fire on Parul's body at about 12:30pm on Sunday.
Neighbours and family members rescued Parul in a critical condition, rushed her to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. From there she was referred to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for proper treatment.
Parul's family members will file a case after her body reaches the area, said Nurul Islam, officer in charge of Gournadi police station.
Police yesterday detained the victim's mother-in-law Monoara Begum and she will be shown arrested when the case is filed, he added.
In connection with suicide of Asma Begum, a case has been filed against five people including her husband Monir Hossain, father-in-law Mustafizur Rahman, Monir's second wife Rubi Aktar, Shawkat Anwar Islam, acting officer in charge of Bakerganj police station, said a case has been lodged.
Police arrested Monir Hossain and trying to arrest the others, the OC said.
During 11 years of married life with Monir, a Photostat shop owner at Varpasha Sahebganj in Bakerganj municipality, they got two sons Mahin, 11, and Tasin, 3, but Munir married another woman three years ago, goes the prosecution.
Since then, Munir started physical and mental torture on her and declined to give maintenance costs of her and her sons, forcing Asma to take shelter at her paternal home in Kalaskathi, it added.
Aggrieved over torture and injustice by husband, Asma put kerosene on her body and set fire to commit suicide at about 10:00am on Friday. Family members admitted her to Barisal SBMCH in a critical condition. She was referred to the Burn Unit of DMCH where she succumbed to her injures on Saturday afternoon.
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