Regional Correspondent, Rajshahi
A young man was abducted and was forced to marry a divorcee by putting vermillion on her forehead on December 4 last year. In protest against the forced marriage, the victim husband Suruj Basfore(26) has filed a written complaint with Rajpara Police Station of the city on Monday ( January-6, 2020).
Suruj Basfore, a resident of Rangpur works as a cleaner at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. He resides at the staff quarter of the hospital. At a press conference held on Tuesday, Suruj complained, he was abducted and was forced to marry the divorcee daughter of Babu Hela, also a fourth class workers of RMCH.
In the press conference Suruj informed, Babu Hela is his neighbour and lives with his divorcee daughter Nandini Hela and wife Rakhi Hela. Babu Hela and his wife often proposed him to marry their daughter Nandini but he refused the proposals. meanwhile, to get rid of Nandini, he decided to leave his quarter and started to search for a new rented house.
On December 4, 2019, Rakhi Hela and her daughter Nandini Hela called him to go with them to visit a proposed rented house. They were out by riding on an autorickshaw in search of the new rented house when on the way, two unidentified youngmen rode on their autorickshaw and they forced him to go to the Harogram Shiva Temple where seven to eight youngmen were waiting. Suruj claimed, infront of the temple, he was forced to put vermillion on the forehead (sithi) of Nandini on the face of arms and their photographs were snapped.
Aftermath of the incident, the family members and friends of Babu, Rakhi and Nandini were publicising every where that he married Nandini though there was no official registration of the marriage. He further said, after the incident he never went to the house of Babu Hela and never took Nandini to his house. he said, he does not recognise the marriage.
Suruj further said, he had complained to the General Secretary of RMCH Employees Union about his forced marriage but family members of Nandini became angry with the complaint the rebuked him severely and also beat him.
He also informed the incident to Rajpara police authorities but the police at first could not believe that a man should be abducted and get married forcefully. babu hela was available on his mobile phone for a comment. Shahadat Hossain Khan, Officer in charge of Rajpara thana informed, there was no legality of a marriage without a registration but it may be possible according to the customs. he said, he would investigate into the matter and take action accordingly.
