Staff Reporter :
Thirty-two year old Shefali Begum was tied to a tree and tortured during her pregnancy by a group of rowdy elements at Khalisha Chapani in Dimla upazila Nilphamari district on Friday. As a result, a baby born to her weighing 900 grams only died at the intensive care unit of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, our local Correspondent reports quoting an attending nurse.
The newborn was in an unstable condition since birth on Monday, said Professor Ferdousi Sultana of Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Shefali Begum was admitted to the hospital in a traumatized condition on Saturday gave birth to a daughter two days later after a surgery on her.
“The infant was kept in an intensive care unit. But all efforts went in vain as the child could not be saved,” Lovely Begum, an attendant said.
Shefali, wife of a rickshaw puller, said some uncivil men tied her to a mango tree and tortured her on instructions of a local political leader on Friday. The political leader is the Khalisha Chapani Union-level president of a political party.
Shefali said, “On Friday morning, she went to her elder sister Aklima’s house in Uttar Baishpukur village to resolve a quarrel between Aklima and her husband. At one stage, a scuffle ensued between Aklima’s husband Rafiqul and her.”
On information, Abdul Kader, President of Ward-4 unit AL in Khalisha Chapani union, came to the spot with his followers, Shefali said.
On Kader’s directives, his men and members of Rafiqul family tied her to a mango tree and started beating and kicking her, Shefali alleged.
Gram Police member Rashidul also took part in the beating, she said.
Victim’s younger sister Moni Aktar said that criminals killed their father in 2012 over a land dispute. A murder case has been under trial at a Nilphamari court.
Accused of the murder case are close to some AL leaders and they pressured Shefali to settle the case outside the court, but failed. Angered, the AL leaders toutured her sister, alleged Moni.
Earlier, Police have arrested three persons, including a member of Gram (village) Police, in a case filed for torturing a seven-month pregnant woman in the Dimla upazila. On Sunday night, police arrested Rashidul Sardar, 45, member of Gram Police, victim’s brother-in-law Rafiqul, 40, and Rafiqul’s mother Opeya Khatun, 65.
Kader, who was accused in the case, denied the allegation of his involvement in torturing Shefali. Later, a case was filed against 19 people with Dimla Police Station.
In Kushtia, a seven year-old boy was tied to a tree and tortured over allegation of thett in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia on Friday afternoon. Jewel, 7, used to work at a shop in front of Lalon Shah’s shrine, reports our Kushtia Correspondent.
Meru Miah and Tanjil from Cheuria village picked him up, tied him to a tree and tortured, said Nasir Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Kushtia Model Police Station.
Meru and Tanjil tortured the boy after one Selim provoked them suspecting Jewel of snatching his mobile phone, the OC said.
No complaint was filed in this regard as Jewel was rescued within five to seven minutes by the locals.
Soon after the incident, police detained Meru Mia, said the OC
