‘Son beat me, drove out of home’

An elderly woman at a press conference in Lalmonirhat town on Monday alleged that her elder son drove her, her younger son and the latter's wife out of home after physically torturing them.

Anwara Bewa, 65, wife of late Tofayel Ahmed Sarker of Telipara village of Mahendranagar union in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, made the allegation against her son Tahmidul Islam Bipob, a local leader of ruling Awami League (AL) and also a member of zila parishad.

"My elder son Bipob tortured me, my younger son Tazbirul Islam Sumon and Sumon's wife Khadizatul Kobra this [Monday] morning, forcing us to leave home," Anwara Bewa said at the press conference held at the office of local weekly Lalmonirhat Barta at Stadium Road in Lalmonirhat town.

"Now we have taken shelter at a relative's house. Biplob earlier cut down all the big trees in our homestead, when 18 to 20 party men were with him.

"As Biplob is president of Mahendranagar union AL and a member of Zila Parishad, relatives and locals dared not protest," Anwara told the journalists.

Her younger son Tazbirul Islam Sumon and his wife Khadizatul Kobra, who were present at the press conference, also described the atrocities on them.

 "My elder brother Biplob has been abusing and torturing our widow mother, me and my wife in a bid to occupy all our ancestral property," said Sumon.

"We have submitted a complaint to the deputy commissioner and the police superintendent, seeking justice," he said adding that they are now scared due to the threat by Biplob.

Sumon's wife Khadizatul Kobra said, "When my brother-in-law Biplob was torturing my mother-in-law, I tried to save her. Then he started beating me in front of all."

Asked about the allegation, Tahmidul Islam Biplob said, "It is merely a family affair. There is no need to talk to journalists about it."

 Contacted, Abida Sultana, superintendent of police in Lalmonirhat, said, "We have received the complaint and police will take legal step after investigation."