A Union Parishad (UP) member in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat has alleged that he was publicly assaulted and humiliated by the wife of a recently expelled leader of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal.
UP member Abdul Karim, representing Ward No. 7 of Chalbala Union, made the allegation at a press conference held at Duhuli Bazar on Saturday (August 29).
In a written statement, Karim alleged that on the morning of August 28, when he was heading out for work, Monowara Begum, wife of recently expelled Chalbala Union Krishak Dal president Shah Alam, stopped him on the road, verbally abused him and tore his clothes.
He further alleged that her son Mehedi Hasan then arrived with a stick and assaulted him. Local residents later rescued him and brought the situation under control, he claimed.
Karim said Shah Alam had allegedly vandalised the house of a migrant worker’s wife in the area on August 19. The woman, Rujina Begum, subsequently filed a case against those accused. A video allegedly showing Shah Alam involved in the incident went viral on social media, following which police arrested him and the Krishak Dal expelled him, Karim said.
The UP member claimed that Shah Alam’s family blamed him for helping the migrant worker’s wife file the case and assaulted him out of anger.
Several local representatives, including UP member Nurul Haque, reserved-seat member Peyari Begum, former Palashi UP member Mujibur Rahman and Rujina Begum, were present at the press conference.
However, Monowara Begum denied the allegation. She said, “As a woman, I cannot raise my hand against a man.” She instead alleged that the UP member had used his influence to have her husband sent to jail, adding that the truth would eventually come out.
Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Siddiq said police had received the UP member’s complaint and would investigate the matter before taking necessary action.
