Husband and Father-in-law Arrested in Bangladesh After Public Assault of Woman

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Police in the Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali have arrested a man and his father following the brutal public assault of a 27-year-old woman, an incident that was captured on video and circulated widely on social media. The victim, Lipi Akter, was discovered by local residents with her hands and feet bound while being transported on a motorized cart.

The incident occurred Wednesday in Charhosonabad village, located within the Banshbaria union. A 146-second video recording of the event shows the victim crying for help while being assaulted on the vehicle. When local residents intervened to rescue her, they were confronted by the suspects, leading to a physical altercation.

During the rescue attempt, 65-year-old Helal Mridha, who tried to assist the woman, sustained a head injury after being struck with a stick, allegedly by the victim’s father-in-law, Moslem Mridha. Helal Mridha was subsequently admitted to the Dashmina Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Local residents successfully detained the two suspects—the husband, 35-year-old Shah Jamal, and his father, 70-year-old Moslem Mridha—until police arrived to take them into custody.

Lipi Akter, who is also receiving medical care at the same hospital, reported a history of systemic domestic abuse following her husband’s decision to marry a second time. She alleged that both her husband and father-in-law subjected her to frequent physical and mental torture, noting that prior attempts at local mediation failed to resolve the volatile situation.

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According to the victim’s account, the assault on Wednesday morning escalated until she lost consciousness. She regained awareness only to find herself bound and being moved against her will.

Dashmina Police Station officer-in-charge Atiqul Islam confirmed that a formal case has been filed against the suspects. Authorities stated that initial investigations indicate the motive for the attack was tied to the ongoing conflict regarding the husband’s second marriage. The accused remain in police custody as the investigation continues.