Mother’s dead body, absconding father: Shilpi, a cruel victim of dowry, future of three children uncertain

Mother's dead body and absconding father - this is how the lives of three children changed in an instant. In Kotalipara, Gopalganj, a housewife named Shilpi Begum (35) has been accused of beating her to death over dowry demands. The incident took place on Monday (June 15) in Buruabari village of Rajaganj Union of the upazila. On receiving the information, Kotalipara police station went to the spot and recovered the body of the deceased. Later, the body was sent to the Gopalganj General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. The deceased Shilpi Begum's brother Charowar Kazi alleged that since marriage, her...

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Mother’s dead body and absconding father – this is how the lives of three children changed in an instant. In Kotalipara, Gopalganj, a housewife named Shilpi Begum (35) has been accused of beating her to death over dowry demands.

The incident took place on Monday (June 15) in Buruabari village of Rajaganj Union of the upazila. On receiving the information, Kotalipara police station went to the spot and recovered the body of the deceased. Later, the body was sent to the Gopalganj General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

The deceased Shilpi Begum’s brother Charowar Kazi alleged that since marriage, her husband Iqbal Sikder had been physically and mentally torturing his sister on various pretexts, including dowry demands.  Family members say that Shilpi Begum had been a victim of torture for a long time.

It is alleged that Shilpi Begum was subjected to inhuman torture and brutal beatings again last Sunday night. When she died at one stage of the beating, the accused husband left the body in the cowshed and fled.

Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot, recovered the body and started the necessary legal process. The accused Iqbal Sikder has been absconding since the incident. However, it is learnt that his elder brother Zakir Sikder has been taken into police custody for questioning.

Shilpi Begum was the mother of three children. Her sudden and tragic death has cast a shadow of grief over the family. Two daughters and a son are now distraught after losing their mother. Relatives and neighbours have expressed concern about the children’s future.

In this regard, Kotalipara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Riyad Mahmud said, “Preparations for a case are underway in this incident. The police operation to arrest the absconding accused is ongoing.”

The residents of the area demand that no other family should face destruction due to social evils like dowry. They have demanded that the real culprits be brought to justice quickly through a proper investigation of the incident and exemplary punishment be given.

Meanwhile, a young man named Shuvo Vaidya (23) has been reported to have committed suicide by hanging himself in Dakshin Lakhanda village of Sadullapur union of the upazila.