A housewife and a mother of a three-year-old child reportedly committed
suicide after being gang-
raped for two months over paying a debt of Tk 20,000 in
Kurigram's Char Rajipur upazila.
The victim's husband, who also attempted to commit suicide consuming the poison but survived, alleged that they took the decision after being failed to get justice despite repeated complaints to local authorities.
The tragic incident began on May 24 when the woman ingested poison. She then, succumbed to the poisoning after five days on Wednesday afternoon despite efforts for treatment at multiple hospitals.
Prior to her death, she had recorded a harrowing audio testimony, which reached local journalists.
In the 20.26-minute audio, the victim said that her husband, a day laborer had been working in Tangail, borrowed Tk 20,000 from one Joynal Mia few months ago. Eventually, Joynal pressured her for repayment and when she failed to pay, he proposed cohabitation with her. Jaynal then, began violating the victim from last March (during the Ramadan month).
During the incident, the associates of Joynal, Shukkur and Soleman who work as butchers and have meat shops in Rajibpur Bazaar, allegedly filmed the rape incident and used the footage to blackmail her into further compliance, said the victim.
Later, when her husband returned home, he discovered his wife's deteriorated condition and learned of incident. Despite appealing to local leaders for justice, no action was taken, she said.
"After being failed to get justice from local authorities, the couple was on the way to the concerned police station to file a case, but they were intercepted by police constable Robiul Islam, Amej Uddin, and Jaynal near Rajibpur Islami Bank, who persuaded them to return home, promising justice later," said the victim's husband.
The husband also stated that on the night of May 23, constable Robiul, police driver Mojaharul Islam, Joynal, Soleman, and Shukkur visited their home and offered Tk 20,000 to dismiss the matter but he refused to take money instead of giving them punishment.
"After feeling desperate and hopeless, we couple attempted suicide by poison on May 24," added the husband.
Following his wife’s death, local UP member Anwar Hossain and Amej Uddin visited the grieving husband, demanding BDT 100,000 for medical expenses and forcing him to sign a blank stamp paper, he said.
UP member Anwar admitted to demanding the money, claiming it was for the couple's medical expenses. He remained silent when questioned about why the medical expenses weren’t detailed on the stamp paper.
Locals also claimed that the couple ingested poison due to the lack of justice and financial resources. When they ingested the poison, they were rescued and initially taken to Rajibpur Upazila Health Complex and then to Jamalpur Hospital. Later, they returned home due to the lack of improvement and financial constraints where the wife died on May 29.
However, the attempts to contact the accused have been unsuccessful, as they remain in hiding.
While contacted, constable Robiul Islam acknowledged visiting the victim's home, but denied involvement in the crime, claiming he was unaware of the rape until after the visit.
Rajibpur Police Station officer-in-charge Ashiqur Rahman stated that no rape complaints had been filed earlier and an unnatural death case was filed in this regard.
The OC also emphasized that any personal crimes by police members would not implicate the entire police force, and the individual responsible would face consequences.
SA
