Lured into filing case, plaintiff denies knowing deceased in Ashulia murder case

Kulsum Begum, who identified an unknown body as her husband's and filed a murder case in a Dhaka court, alleging he was killed in Ashulia on 5 August, has now said that she did not know the deceased and was lured into filing the case.

Talking to The Business Standard at Ashulia police station today (22 November), Kulsum said two people named Shafique and Ruhul Amin offered her a job and financial help and coerced her into filing the case.

Earlier, Kulsum's husband Al Amin appeared before Surma police station in Sylhet on 12 November and identified himself as alive, alleging that his wife had filed the murder case with ill intentions.

On 13 November, AL Amin appeared before Dhaka's Chief Judicial Magistrate Court through Ashulia police station.

Since Al Amin's appearance, Kulsum had gone into hiding.

She was rescued from Cox's Bazar on Thursday and brought to Ashulia police station.

Besides, two people named Shafique and Ruhul Amin have been apprehended by police for questioning.

Contacted, Officer In-Charge of Ashulia police station Abu Bakar Siddik said, "Police started investigating the matter after Kulsum's husband entered the scene and appeared before the court."

"We couldn't contact Kulsum as she was hiding. We've detained her along with Shafique and Ruhul Amin. All of them will be sent to court today," the OC added.

The OC further said they are trying to unearth the identity of the deceased.

On 24 October, Kulsum filed a case with Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court accusing Sheikh Hasina and 129 others of killing her husband Al Amin during the mass uprising on 5 August.

According to the case statement, Kulsum's husband took part in the student movement and was a part of the victory procession on the afternoon of 5 August.

He was killed by a gunshot by some Awami League men, the statement says.

The statement further says finding her husband nowhere, Kulsum went to Ashulia Women and Children Hospital on 6 August and identified a body as his husband's.

When Kulsum went to the police, they told her to file a case with the court, the case statement added.

Meanwhile, on 11 November upon reaching Sylhet police station, Al Amin said, "On 5 August, my wife was in Sylhet with me. We had an argument a few days later, and she left for Manikganj. I haven't been in contact with her since then. A few days ago, a person named Shiplu called to inform me that she had filed a case, claiming I was killed in the 5 August protests."

Following this, Al Amin went to the South Surma police to report his situation.

"I filed a general diary and consulted with the officer-in-charge before being transferred to Ashulia police," he said.