Woman assaulted allegedly by husband at CPB office

A leftist party leader’s wife alleged that her husband, along with another party leader, physically assaulted her party at the Communist Party Bangladesh (CPB) office in Dhaka.

The woman who is a former Chhatra Union activist also alleged that her husband, SM Abdus Sattar Shuvo, has an “unusual relationship” with the party leader, Ariful Islam Nadim.

She filed a case against the duo with Kalabagan police station on July 16, under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

The accused are executive committee members of Bangladesh Khet Majur Samity, an associate body of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).

When contacted, Dhaka Tribune found Shuvo’s phone switched off, while Nadim’s denied the allegation.

They got married on June 13, 2019, according to the case statement, after six years of relationship. However, Shuvo was not living at home, but rather at the party mess.

She received treatment at the one-stop crisis centre at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on June 25 where the duty doctor referred her to the legal desk, stating that she was physically assaulted by her husband.

“After marriage, the demand for money scaled up,” she said.

“From then onwards, he basically started beating even in little matters, such as, when I found incoming calls from a girl at night,” she claimed.

He was traceless for a fortnight in May and she filed a missing General Diary (GD).

On June 21, he told her that he would never return to her and she went to the party office to bring him back.

“He [Shuvo] physically assaulted me horribly,” claimed the victim.

In the meantime Shuvo called Nadim and he then threatened her, she alleged.

“He [Nadim] threatened me with crossfire and assault and I got scared,” she claimed, adding that she managed to get away.

On July 25, she went to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and doctors sent her to One-Stop crisis centre.

“I have no objection about his sexual orientation, but why did he cheat on me and assault me physically,” she claimed.

She said that she had complained to CPD leaders, but to no avail.

About the allegation, Nadim said he was being framed.

“She married Shuvo blackmailing him saying that she would commit suicide,” said Nadim.

“He didn’t stay with her as he was trying to divorce her. He was finalizing divorce,” he said, adding: “When she realised that, she filed the case.”

When asked about the claim of “unusual relationship,” Nadim denied the allegation and said: “It would be wise to ask her the question as to why would she be so eager to marry a gay person?”

When Nadim was told that his friend Shuvo’s phone was switched off, he said: “People are calling him repeatedly. That’s why he turned it off.”

Bangladesh Khet Majur Samity President Dr Fazlur Rahman said: “We have received written allegations. She had provided some documents of assault. We are talking it over with our party.”

He refused to comment further over the matter.