Housewife tortured for dowry in Patuakhali

Aklima Begum, 25, a housewife and mother of a child, is fighting for life at the Kalapara Upazila Health Complex. She was hacked by her husband for dowry on Friday night.

Police sources said Aklima Begum, daughter of Hakim Gazi of Kumirmara village under Kalapara upazila of the district, got married to Hossen Mridha of nearby Mohammadpur village five years ago.

After marriage, Mridha demanded Tk 2 lakh from Aklima's family to go abroad. Aklima's family somehow fulfilled his demand but he didn't go.

Mridha often asked Aklima to bring money from her father but she refused to do so. Getting angry, he would often torture her both physically and mentally.

A few days ago, Mridha forced Aklima out of his house. Finding no alternative, she submitted a complaint to the local UP chairman, who arranged an arbitration meeting on Friday afternoon.

Following the decision of the arbitration meeting, Mridha took Aklima back to his house. Later at night, Mridha, his mother Rezia Begum, and sister Mahinur Begum hacked Aklima with sharp weapons and beat up her with sticks. At one stage, she became unconcious.

Hearing the news, Anwar Hossain, brother of Aklima, rushed to the spot and took her to the hospital at midnight.

Contacted, GM Shah Newaz, officer-in-charge of Kalapara Police Station, said no case was filed regarding the incident as of filing of this report.

Locals said Mridha had gone into hiding soon after the incident.