Unequal child marriage, sexual abuse alleged in Amtali
HM Rusel, Amtali (Barguna)
A sixth-grade girl (13) was allegedly married off to a 38-year-old Saudi expatriate in Amtoli, Barguna.
When the girl returned to her father's house after being sexually abused by her husband, her relatives, including her father, beat and injured six people, including the girl, when she refused to return to her husband's house.
The incident took place in Nachnapara village of the upazila on Friday afternoon. The injured were rescued by police and admitted to the Amtali Upazila Health Complex.
Local sources said that on April 2, Jannatul, the daughter of Abu Jafar Hawlader of Nachnapara village, was forcibly married to Abdul Halim Hawlader, a Saudi expatriate from Karaibunia village. Jannatul alleged that she was tortured by her husband after the marriage. Due to this, she returned to her father's house on July 22 and said that she would not go to her husband again.
Teenage girl Jannatul complained, "I was forcibly married to an older man. Unable to bear the torture of my husband, I did not go to his house again. Angered by this, my father, uncle, and grandfather, along with a group of others, beat me, my mother, sister, maternal uncle, and maternal aunt, along with six others."
Mother Airin Begum complained, "My daughter is only 13 years old, studying in the sixth grade. At such a young age, my husband, in-laws and relatives forcibly married her to a 38-year-old man. When they tried to forcefully send the daughter back to her husband's house, we were beaten up when we refused."
On the other hand, father Abu Jafar Hawladar denied the allegations, saying, "I only abused my daughter, I did not beat her because she did not want to go to her husband's house."
Husband Abdul Halim Hawlader also denied the allegations of torture, saying, "I never had sex with my wife, so how could I torture her?"
Amtali Upazila Health Complex Medical Officer Dr. Luna Binte Haque said the injured have been admitted to the hospital after receiving treatment.
Amtali Police Station OC (Investigation) Saidul Islam said, "Upon receiving the information, the police rescued the injured from the scene. Legal action will be taken if a written complaint is received."
