'Bring criminals to book'

People at a human chain in the town yesterday demanded arrest and exemplary punishment of the culprits who tortured a schoolteacher for dowry in Sadar upazila.

The victim is Nurun Nahar Tanjila, 28, a teacher of Dangapara Government Primary School in Atwary upazila of Panchagarh.

Under the banner of Sammilita Nari Samaj in Thakurgaon, different women's rights organisations organised the rally.

Speakers at the rally said though several days have passed, most of the accused, including prime accused Tanjila's husband Anwar Hossain, a lecturer of Pirganj Government College, are still at large.      

The offenders are even giving threats to Tanjila's family to withdraw the case.

District Mahila Parishad General Secretary Suchorita Dev and Director of Jononi Nur Banu Begum spoke at the rally. 

A week after their wedding, Tanjila's husband Anwar started torturing Tanjila for dowry. 

On October 27, Anwar and his family members beat Tanjila mercilessly and at one stage, hit her with a sharp weapon in the head, leaving her seriously injured.

Later, police arrested Anwar's father Helal Uddin and brother Md Farukh Ahmed.