Passing through a series of unfortunate events, 28-year-old Topi Khatun was married off to school teacher Saiful Islam Sumon, 30, who earlier had impregnated her giving false hope of marriage.
Sumon, who already has a wife, went to Topi’s house to perform the marriage rituals on Friday night. Topi is currently five months pregnant.
A former assistant teacher of Mohammadpur Ideal Secondary School and son of former police official Abul Hashem of Mohammadpur village under Meherpur district, Sumon kept denying the allegations made by Topi and her father for several days.
As the news of Topi’s pregnancy spread across the village, Topi’s father Azgor Ali made a complaint to the village heads. However, Sumon kept skipping the sessions called by salish (village court).
On January 12, Azgor committed suicide as Sumon was not penalised by the local court.
Following Azgor’s death, Sumon and his family members fled from their house and remained fugitive for next two days.
On Friday, Sumon finally succumbed to the decisions of the village heads and married Topi. Sumon and his father made a promise in front of the village heads and locals to register one bigha land in the name of Topi and her mother by next Thursday. The alimony for the marriage was fixed at Tk1 lakh.
A number of locals attended the wedding and showered blessings for the couple.
Earlier Sumon was fired from his job following the claims made by Azgor.
A number of villagers told this correspondent that they frequently become victims of the complicated sessions called by the salish as they do not have the financial capability of running cases at courts.