Ex-husband throws acid on health worker in Mirpur

A man allegedly threw acid on his ex-wife, an employee at a hospital in Dhaka's Mirpur area, this morning.

As the victim, Rahima Begum (45) -- a medical assistant at Birdem hospital's branch in Mirpur -- was leaving the hospital around 6:30am after night duty, her ex-husband Abdul Ali threw acid on her and fled.

Rahima was later rescued and admitted to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Dr Partha Sankar Paul, a residential surgeon at the institute, said Rahima had 12 percent burns on her body including her face.

According to the victim's family members, Rahima -- hailing from Biral upazila of Dinajpur and a resident of Natun Bazar area in ​​Kalyanpur -- got divorced from her husband Abdul Ali three months back.

Yesterday, Ali -- helper of a truck driver -- met Rahima and threatened her with dire consequences if she does not return to him. Rahima expressed unwillingness to go back to her ex-husband, said Miraj Hossain, husband of victim's sister.

Days after their divorce, Ali beat up Rahima and took away her salary, he said. Rahima filed a general diary with Mirpur Police Station in this regard, Miraj added.

Mustafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, said the victim's ex-husband was absconding and the process to arrest him was underway. No case has been lodged so far, the OC added.