Husband and Father-in-Law Arrested Over Assault

A woman in Patuakhali’s Dasmina upazila has alleged that she was bound and subjected to severe physical abuse, prompting local residents to intervene, restrain her husband and father-in-law, and hand them over to police. The incident has since led to their arrest following a formal complaint lodged by the victim.

The incident occurred on Wednesday in the Char Hosenabad area of Banshbariya union. The victim, 27-year-old Lipi Akter, was reportedly assaulted inside a three-wheeled vehicle locally known as a “tomtom”. A 2-minute-26-second video of the incident later circulated widely on social media, showing her with her hands tied while being beaten, as she cried out for help.

According to eyewitness accounts, several locals attempted to stop the vehicle after hearing the victim’s screams. This intervention escalated into a confrontation, during which the accused—her husband Shah Jamal (35) and father-in-law Moslem Mirdha (70)—allegedly became aggressive. A scuffle broke out, and both men were eventually restrained by residents before police were alerted.

Police from Dasmina Police Station arrived at the scene shortly afterwards, rescued the victim, and took the two accused into custody. A case was subsequently filed by the victim, leading to their formal arrest.

During the intervention, a local resident, Helal Mirdha (65), sustained injuries. He was reportedly struck on the head with a stick, allegedly by the father-in-law, while attempting to assist the victim. He was admitted to the upazila health complex with a head injury.

Lipi Akter, currently receiving treatment at the Dasmina Upazila Health Complex, stated that she has two sons and three daughters. She alleged that her husband had entered into a second marriage, after which she had been subjected to repeated physical and psychological abuse by both her husband and father-in-law. She further claimed that multiple local arbitration attempts failed to resolve the dispute.

She also described that during the incident she lost consciousness after being beaten. When she regained awareness, her hands and feet were tied, and she was being transported in the vehicle, prompting her to cry for help until locals intervened.

The Officer-in-Charge of Dasmina Police Station, Atiqul Islam, confirmed that preliminary investigations indicate a pattern of domestic abuse following the husband’s second marriage. He added that the victim was rescued in an injured condition and provided medical care before legal action was taken.

Summary of Key Parties

The incident has sparked concern among local residents, highlighting ongoing issues of domestic violence and the challenges faced in resolving family disputes through informal mediation.