Bogura woman loses unborn child after alleged dowry-related assault

A pregnant woman in Nandigram, Bogura, has accused her husband and in-laws of brutally assaulting her and causing the death of her unborn child over a dowry dispute. The victim, Rumki Begum, filed a complaint with the Nandigram Police Station on Sunday against her husband, Aminul Islam, and seven members of his family.

Aminul Islam is the son of Ekram Hossain from Thalta Majhgram village. Rumki Begum, originally from the Sonargaon Museum Gate area in Narayanganj, met Aminul through a phone relationship. She later converted to Islam and married him. The couple has two children.

According to the complaint, Rumki has faced regular physical and emotional abuse from her husband and in-laws since the marriage due to demands for dowry. To stop the violence, she claims to have paid a total of 300,000 BDT to her in-laws. Despite this, the abuse continued.

On June 27, Rumki alleged that she was severely beaten with sticks by her husband and in-laws. During the assault, they allegedly pulled her by the hair and kicked her in the stomach. Hearing her screams, neighbors intervened and took her to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. While under treatment, doctors informed her that the fetus—three and a half months along—had died as a result of the attack.

"Even though they knew I was pregnant, they tortured me inhumanely," said Rumki Begum. "This wasn’t the first time—I’ve filed four previous complaints. Now they’ve taken my unborn child. What crime have I committed? As a mother, I demand justice and punishment for those responsible for my baby’s death."

Aminul Islam has denied the allegations, calling them false. “We are trying to reach a settlement with the complainant,” he stated.

Nandigram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mozaharul Islam confirmed receipt of the complaint. “We are in contact with the victim. A case will be filed, and appropriate legal action will be taken,” he said.