Widowed mother's shelter taking at husband’s grave with 2 kid sparks condemnation

Widowed housewife Sonia Begum was forced to take shelter beside her husband's grave with her two children in Uttar Laskarchala village of Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur after not being able to find a place in her in-laws' house. This incident has been strongly condemned and urgent administrative intervention has been demanded by Youth Action for Social Change (YASC) Rajshahi chapter President Md. Shamiul Alim Shaon.

In a statement, the writer and development activist called the incident 'extreme barbarity in modern civilization and a slap in the face of the rule of law'.

According to reports, after the death of Sonia Begum's husband Sujan Mahmud, her father-in-law Kafil Uddin refused to accept her and her two children. Sonia alleged that despite the financial capacity of her in-laws, her husband died due to lack of proper treatment. It is alleged that the father-in-law left the place without being present during her husband's burial, which created widespread anger in the area.

After that, the family of local resident Saiful Islam gave Sonia shelter for a few days, but it was not permanent due to the fear of legal complications. Unable to find a place to stay anywhere, Sonia finally took shelter next to her husband's grave with her 9-year-old daughter Choya and 18-month-old breastfed son.

In a tearful voice, she said, "My father-in-law refused to give us any shelter. Where will I go with these two children? I have no other place."

Expressing deep concern over the incident, Md. Shamiul Alim Shaon said that there is no room to view this as just a 'family dispute'. When a mother spends the night under the open sky next to a grave with her 9-year-old daughter and 18-month-old breastfed baby, we have to understand how fragile our social security system is. The allegation of depriving Sujan Mahmud of proper medical treatment despite his financial capacity is a criminal offense. Then evicting his orphaned children from their land is a gross violation of human rights.

Regarding the police's attempt, he said that when the lives and safety of the victims are under threat, sitting at the table with the criminals is nothing but a waste of time. Strict implementation of the law should be the first step.

He made six demands to the administration in this incident. These are - immediately arrest father-in-law Kafil Uddin and mother-in-law; provide permanent state guarantees of safe housing, food and medical treatment for the victims; investigate the allegations of negligence in Sujan Mahmud's treatment and file a case of murder or death due to negligence based on evidence; ensure the fair rights of Sonia and her children to the property of her deceased husband as per the Muslim Succession Act; make the District Social Services Department responsible for the long-term protection of the two children under the Child Protection Act 2013 and take strict legal action against those who threatened journalists.

At the end of the statement, Shaon said that the civilization of a nation is measured in terms of the state's treatment of its most helpless people. Sonia Begum and her two children are a big test in front of our judicial system today. 'YESC' will continue to monitor this incident until the trial.

It is worth noting that Sujon's mother behaved disrespectfully with journalists when asked about the incident. Kaliakair Police Station OC Md. Shahidul Islam said that efforts are being made to resolve the matter with the two parties and if there is no resolution, legal action will be taken.