Salma Begum (29) has not been found even after three days after she jumped into the river with her three children due to a family dispute in Shariatpur. Rescue work has been stopped by the fire service diving team.
However, the body of a woman was recovered about 15 km downstream from the scene at around 10 o’clock today. But her relatives have confirmed that it is not Salma Begum’s.
Police say the recovered body has been sent to the hospital for post-mortem. After the post-mortem, the remains will be handed over to the municipal authorities for burial.
The fire service and the police station say that around 10 am, the locals found the body of an unidentified woman, aged approximately 30 years, floating from the Kirtinasha river in the Darichar Dadpur area of Angaria Union of Sadar Upazila, about 15 kilometers downstream from the incident site. Later the body was recovered and Salma’s relatives were informed by Sadar police station. The people of Salma’s in-laws and father’s house saw the body and said that the body was not Salma’s. Later, the body was sent to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital for post-mortem.
On Sunday morning, housewife Salma Begum jumped into the Kirtinasha river with her three children from Bhojeshwar Bazar Bridge of Naria Upazila of the district. Immediately after the jump, locals managed to rescue her two children, aged one year and two and a half years, alive. They were floating in the river wearing diapers. After 24 hours, on Monday around 11 o’clock local people found the body of elder son Sahabir alias Zafar (7) 500 feet downstream from the spot.
Missing Salma Begum is the wife of Ajbahar Matbar of Maijpara village of Japsa union of Naria upazila. Matabar of Ajbahar used to trade jute in Bhojeshwar market but now he is trying to go abroad.
After the incident, a team of seven members of the Nadia Fire Service and a diving team of four members from Madaripur conducted operations for the last two days, but they could not rescue anyone.
Unable to bear the torture of her husband, mother-in-law and nuns, Salma jumped into the river with her three children, the relatives of Salma alleged.
According to police and family sources, Salma, daughter of rickshaw puller Lokman Chayal of Pachak village of the same upazila, was married to Azbahar 10 years ago. They had three children named Sahabir alias Zafar (7), Anika (3) and Suleiman (1). Salma Begum’s mother-in-law Milli Begum and Nanad Koli were not on good terms after marriage. There has been a conflict between them for a long time. Last Saturday night, Salma quarreled with her mother-in-law and nuns. Later, Salma’s relatives alleged that her husband beat her in Azbahar. Salma jumped into the river with her three children at around 10:30 the next morning.
Salma’s mother lost her daughter and three grandchildren. He is moaning and fainting repeatedly. She complained, ‘They did not let my daughter live in peace because she was poor. Until now, all the tortures have been tolerated. They did not feed my daughter properly. Unable to endure their torture, my daughter jumped into the river with her three children.’
Ever since the incident, Swami Azbahar has been seen lamenting on the river bank. He denied the allegations and said, ‘I love my wife more than life. I didn’t even give him a single flower tap. My parents never bad him. God knows why he jumped into the river with my children.’
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Palong Model Police Station Mesbahuddin Ahmed told Ajker newspaper, ‘The body of an unidentified woman was recovered from Angaria Kirtinasha river in the morning. The body was believed to be that of Salma Begum. Later, when Salma Begum’s relatives were informed, they said that this body is not Salma Begum’s. Later, the body was prepared and sent to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital Mortuary for autopsy. After the post-mortem, it will be handed over to the municipal authorities for burial as heirless.’
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Naria Police Station. Hafizur Rahman told Ajker newspaper, ‘Salma Begum, who jumped into the river with her three children due to a family dispute, has not yet been identified. The body of the missing boy was recovered yesterday and sent to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Legal action is under process in this regard.’
