Dhaka Tribune journalist Md Saidun Nabi demanded justice after securing bail from a Chittagong court in a case filed by his wife on charges of torture for dowry on Wednesday.
During the hearing at the court of Sixth Judicial Magistrate Fardin Mustaqim Tasin, Nabi's lawyer Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, also the president of Chittagong District Bar Association, argued that the allegations were false and fabricated and meant to harass his client.
The plaintiff, Kunsuma Jannatul Shampa, could not be reached for comments by phone despite repeated attempts. She filed the case at the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court of Kamrun Nahar Rumi on March 21.
According to the case, the accused tortured her on two occasions -- on March 15 and 20 -- at his house in East Syedpur area of the district's Sitakunda upazila for a dowry of Tk2 lakh.
However, the plaintiff has been staying at her paternal house since December 26 and has not met her husband since then, the defence lawyer said.
The case also alleges that the plaintiff went to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex to receive treatment. Later, her father took her to the local police station but the police did not register the case. Her father then suggested that she files a case in court.
On this point, Nazim said the plaintiff's father left the country for Oman on December 29, where he runs a tailoring shop.
The journalist said he attempted to settle the conflict with his wife and in-laws several times but did not get any cooperation from the other side. He also reported the matter to the local ward councillor of Sitakunda municipality and village heads, but to no avail.
On February 22, Nabi had a legal notice issued through the District Legal Aid Office for arbitration with his wife.
The journalist claimed that the relatives of his wife threatened him with dire "consequences" on several occasions whenever he tried to contact his wife and one-year-old daughter.
Currently a senior sub-editor of the English daily, Nabi previously served in the country's leading media outlets.
