A supreme court lawyer was brutally assaulted and sexually harassed on October 1 for demanding to return the money that she owed to her cousin.
The victim was identified as Shamia Akter, 51, resident of Bhararia village in Nagarpur upazila of Tangail.
The incident occurred in the Bhararia village of the upazila. Immediately after the incident, locals rescued Shamima and took her to the Nagarpur Upazila Health Complex.
Shamima Akhtar filed a case at the Nagarpur Police Station on October 8. The incident was perpetrated by her own cousins and nephews, who were identified as Sirajul Islam, 60, Hasan, 40, Tonmoy, 22, Raihan, 23, and Ashraf, 43.
Officer-in-Charge of Nagarpur police station Md Rafiqul Islam said after the victim filed a formal complaint, a police force was sent to the scene. The preliminary investigation confirmed the truth of the incident. We will work sincerely to ensure that the complainant receives justice.
Shamima Akter said the main accused, Sirajul Islam, borrowed a total of Tk 550,000 from my father at various times between 2014 and 2023. On the evening of October 1, around 6:30pm, when I met Sirajul on the Bongram Bridge in Nagarpur Thana, I asked for the return of the money owed. At that time, he denied about borrowing money and verbally abused me with foul language, threatening to beat me and kill me. When I protested, he started hitting me badly with punches and kicks. As a result, my face and various parts of my body became bruised and swollen. He tore my clothes and attempted to sexually assault me. Sirajul then called in Hasan, Raihan, Tanmoy, and Ashraf. They came, grabbed my neck, and started to kick and punch me. Later, the locals people rescued me and took me to Nagarpur Upazila Health Complex.
She also said that after being released on bail, the accused obstructed the construction work of my new establishment on October 20 and intimidated the masons. As a result, my family, including me, is feeling extremely insecure.
When some journalists visited the place, an eye-witness named Kulsum said immediately after the Maghrib Ajan, I heard a woman screaming for help. As I rushed there, I saw Sirajul beating Shamima. To ensure that I do not tell anyone about this incident, some local people are intimidating me and my family. So now we are staying silent out of fear.
Sub-Inspector (SI) Abdul Matin, the investigative officer of the case, said the matter is under investigation. We have already taken statements from several witnesses, and we are waiting to collect more testimonies from a few others, as well as the medical certificate.
Regarding the obstruct of the construction work, SI Abdul Matin said, after hearing about the incident, I and SI Sayem went to the location and confirmed the truth of the matter. I learned that two individuals named Babu and Ashraf had obstructed the construction. The police always stand against granting bail to the accused; however, whether to grant bail is decision of the court.
Accused Sirajul Islam did not receive his phone when he was contacted.
