Woman’s teeth broken as loud music played, hands and feet burned with heated sickle
A man named Mehedi Hasan has been accused of torturing his wife over dowry demands in Kalai upazila of Joypurhat. Masuda Begum, who was subjected to the abuse, died on Friday night while undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura.
Following a case filed by Masuda’s brother, Bashir Uddin, police arrested Mehedi Hasan alias Shapla, 40, on Friday night. The case was filed against him at Kalai police station the same night under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
The arrested Mehedi Hasan is the son of late Abdus Samad of Harunja Shahapara village in Kalai upazila. Masuda’s home was in Dashra village in neighbouring Khetlal upazila. They had been married for about 20 years and had a 12-year-old daughter.
According to the case statement and local sources, Mehedi Hasan had been demanding dowry from his wife, Masuda Begum, at various times since their marriage. The case statement alleges that she was subjected to physical and mental abuse at different times for failing to provide the money.
Case plaintiff Bashir Uddin said his sister Masuda had inherited 20 decimals of land. Her husband had been pressuring her to sell the land, he said. They later gave her husband Tk 100,000. He then demanded another Tk 500,000 in dowry.
According to the case statement, at around 11:00 am on 14 August, Mehedi Hasan tied Masuda’s hands and feet and played loud music inside the house while demanding dowry. He then allegedly struck her in the face with pliers, breaking two of her teeth. Her hands and feet were subsequently burned with a heated sickle.
At one point, Masuda fell ill and, according to the case statement, was left inside the house with the door locked from outside. Local residents later learned of the incident, rescued her in critical condition and admitted her to Joypurhat General Hospital.
The following day, Masuda was taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura for better treatment. She died there on Friday night after seven days of treatment.
Case plaintiff Bashir Uddin said his sister Masuda had inherited 20 decimals of land. Her husband had been pressuring her to sell the land, he said. They later gave her husband Tk 100,000. He then demanded another Tk 500,000 in dowry. Bashir Uddin alleged that his sister was tortured for failing to pay the money and demanded justice for the incident.
Kalai police station officer-in-charge Rafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest and said the case had been filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act following a court order.