Widow tortured by land grabber

Bringing allegation of extramarital affair against a widow, a land grabber has allegedly evicted her from her land after torturing her inhumanly. She along with her children could not return home for the last 16 days due to death threat by the accused.

“The land grabber continued threatening to kill my son and rape my daughter if I return home with my family,” said victim Reshma Begum, 38.

She is now staying at her relative’s residence since the incident took place on April 4 at Putkia village in Phulbari upazila. Reshma was wife of late Ashraful Islam.

Reshma alleged that her elder brother-in-law Nazrul Islam has been conspiring against her to evict her from the land since her husband died two years ago. She, along with her seven-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter were asleep on April 4. She abruptly woke up hearing chaos outside. 

Later, Nazrul and his neighbour Abdul Kaiyum blamed her of having an extramarital affair with a local youth and tortured her for hours tying to a tree. Being informed, police rushed to the spot and rescued the woman.

The woman filed a case, accusing seven people, including Nazrul.

“Situation turned bad for me after filing the case against Nazrul,” said Reshma, adding that the accused in the case have been continuously threatening her to withdraw the case or face dire consequences.

“They have also threatened to kill my son and rape my daughter”, she said.

Nazrul could not give any suitable answer when this correspondent asked him why he tortured the woman.

Sheikh Nasim Habib, officer in charge of Phulbari Police Station, said police are trying to arrest the accused.