Faridpur Correspondent
A 15-year-old girl died under mysterious circumstances two months after eloping with her boyfriend and marrying him, with her family alleging that she was strangled by her husband.
The deceased, Lamia Akter, was the daughter of Litu Matubbar of Maheshwardi Sahapara village in Hamirdi Union of Bhanga upazila, Faridpur. She also lived at her maternal grandfather Abdul Wadud Khalasi’s house in Bara Muskini village of the same union.
Family members found Lamia’s body at Bhanga Upazila Health Complex at around 10pm on Sunday (September 27). The body was sent to the morgue of Faridpur Medical College Hospital on Monday (September 28). Her family members were seen waiting outside the morgue in the afternoon.
According to the family, Lamia was an eighth-grade student at Munsurabad High School. She became acquainted with garage mechanic Roni Sheikh while travelling to and from school. Roni is the son of Sobhan Sheikh of Kapuria Sadaradi area in the same upazila.
The two later developed a relationship, and Lamia eloped with Roni on July 20 and married him. They remained in hiding before the families located them this month. The two families subsequently accepted their marriage.
About a week ago, Lamia and Roni rented a house in the Munsurabad area and began living together. Her maternal grandfather Abdul Wadud Khalasi alleged that Lamia was subjected to physical abuse by her husband and mother-in-law on two occasions after moving into the house.
“My granddaughter Lamia was strangled to death. There are finger marks on her neck and signs of assault on her face,” Abdul Wadud said.
He said Roni’s mother informed them that Lamia had died by suicide after being strangled and left hanging with a scarf. The family rushed to the hospital that night and found Lamia’s body, but neither Roni nor any of his family members was there. They had allegedly fled, leaving the body at the hospital.
Abdul Wadud and other family members alleged that Lamia had been murdered and demanded a proper investigation. They also demanded Roni’s immediate arrest and trial.
Bhanga Police Station officer-in-charge Md Mizanur Rahman said police recovered the body after receiving the information and sent it to the morgue in the morning.
“The actual cause of death will be known after we receive the autopsy report,” he said, adding that no one from the family had yet filed a complaint. “If a complaint is filed, legal action will be taken.” #EK
