Woman claims she was assaulted by husband at CPB office

Wife of a left-leaning front leader alleged that she was assaulted by her husband and another leader of the party at CPB office in Dhaka's Paltan area last month when she went there to solve their marital problems.

The woman filed a case against her husband, SM Abdus Sattar alias Shuvo (34), and Ariful Islam Nadim (35) under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with Kalabagan Police Station on July 16.

However, both the accused -- executive committee members of Bangladesh Khet Majur Samity, an associate body of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) -- denied the allegations.

In the case statement, the woman mentioned that they got married on June 13, 2019 after six years of relationship. But their conjugal life was not going well.

"He (Shuvo) was unemployed and had no income. I used to bear all expenses of the family with my income," the woman said, alleging that she was often beaten up by her husband for money.

"On the morning on May 17, he beat me up mercilessly when I informed the matter to my father. After two days, he left home," the woman mentioned in the statement.

"On the night of June 21, Shuvo informed me over phone that he was not going to stay with me anymore," she added.

Soon after his call, the woman ran to CPB office around 10:45pm to bring her husband back.

"He beat me mercilessly. His friend Nadim threatened me with crossfire," she claimed.

"On condition of not disclosing the incident to anyone, they later sent me home with the help of another party member," she added.

She received treatment at the one-stop crisis centre at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on June 25 where the duty doctor referred her to legal desk, stating that she was physically assaulted by her husband.

The woman told this correspondent that her husband and Nadim shared a room at the party office and have an "unusual relationship". It became an issue between the couple, she claimed.

In a general diary filed with Kalabagan Police Station on July 4, the woman said that she had been humiliated by Nadim at different times.

On June 30, the woman made complaints with Khet Majur Samity against the duo. On July 10, they recorded her statement, she said.

Contacted over phone today, Shuvo denied the allegations, saying his wife is trying to defame him.

"I live in a room at the party office where she showed up on the night of June 21. There was no reason to assault her there," Shuvo said.

He said their marriage had "complications" and there was lack of understanding between them.

"So, I didn't live with her. After that, wherever I go, she tries to create a scene and harass me…So I decided to avoid her," he said.

Shuvo said he was preparing to divorce her and that's why she came up with the allegations against him to stop the process.

Another accused in the case, Nadim also denied the allegations made against him.

"Shuvo is a good friend and we have been sharing a room at the party office for the last eight months. We have been involved in the party politics together for the last 12 years and have good understanding," he said.

Nadim today said he did not threaten the woman but rather advised her to solve their problems legally.

While talking to The Daily Star today, the woman said she will accept divorce, but wants justice for the assault.

Contacted today, Dr Fazlur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Khet Majur Samity, said that they have received a complaint in this regard from the woman and have been looking into it.

Asked about the assault at the party office, he said he would not comment about it.

Sub-inspector Mohammad Biplab Hossain of Kalabagan Police Station, who is investigating the case, told this newspaper today that he has started the investigation and efforts are underway to catch the accused.