Pregnant Woman Suffers Miscarriage Following Group Attack

A two-month pregnant woman, identified as 18-year-old Afsana, reportedly suffered a miscarriage following a coordinated physical assault in the Nesharabad Upazila of Pirojpur. The violence stems from a long-standing dispute regarding a historical rape case. Her husband, Mo. Ali Akbar, aged 26, was also severely injured during the same incident. Afsana, a local school and college student, is currently undergoing medical treatment at the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Origin of Conflict and the Initial Assault

According to statements from the victim’s family, the underlying hostility dates back to November 2014. At that time, a case was registered against Abdul Jabbar—the father-in-law of Afsana’s brother-in-law, Anik—for the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl, who is the niece of Afsana’s father. The family asserts that they never received proper justice for that crime, leading to protracted animosity between the two households.

The escalation occurred on Thursday, 4 June, during the afternoon. A group of six to seven individuals, including neighbours identified as Chan Miah, Rowshonara, Rumana, and Shimul, launched an attack on Ali Akbar. When Afsana attempted to intervene to protect her husband, the assailants targeted her as well, subjecting her to a severe physical beating.

Subsequent Ambush and Medical Escalation

Afsana’s father, Mo. Shahidul Islam, stated that after receiving news of the assault, locals assisted in transporting the injured couple to the hospital. However, while en route, they were ambushed for a second time in the Inderhat Bazar area. This secondary assault was reportedly led by Anik and Kawsar, accompanied by local Awami League activists. Shahidul Islam noted that his daughter contacted him via mobile phone during the attack. Despite his immediate call to the national emergency service (999), no police assistance arrived.

The couple was eventually admitted to Nesharabad Hospital, where Ali Akbar received treatment for three days. While Akbar’s condition has since stabilised, Afsana’s health deteriorated rapidly. Dr Asaduzzaman Asad, the Health and Family Planning Officer at Nesharabad Hospital, confirmed that Afsana was admitted on the afternoon of 4 June in a pregnant state. On the afternoon of 6 June, she experienced sudden, severe bleeding, necessitating her immediate transfer to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. The severe bleeding resulted in the termination of her pregnancy.

Institutional Responses and Contradictory Statements

The incident has drawn varying accounts and administrative responses from local authorities, medical professionals, and the accused parties, as outlined below:

Legal Status and Witness Accounts

Multiple female eyewitnesses to the assault reported that when they attempted to intervene and protect Afsana, the attackers threatened them to deter interference. These witnesses have called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

Attempts to contact the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Nesharabad Police Station, Mehedi Hasan, for clarification were unsuccessful. However, Police Inspector Sanjay Mojumdar clarified that the documentation currently submitted to the court is a General Diary. He stated that formal criminal proceedings regarding the miscarriage would be initiated as soon as the official medical certificates and required evidence are provided by the medical facility and the victim’s family.