RDRS saves hanged cop's daughter from being divorced

Timely interference by a local NGO has saved Salma Akhtar, 19, eldest daughter of hanged police Constable Abdus Sattar, from being divorced by her husband Abdur Rouf, 23.

Constable Sattar and SI Moinul Islam, both convicted in the Yasmin rape and murder case, were hanged in Rangpur jail on September 1. Yasmin was raped and killed in Dinajpur in 1995.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

After Sattar's mercy petition to the President was rejected, Rouf's parents demanded Tk one lakh as dowry. Her family said they had no means to pay Tk one lakh.

The Daily Star published a story headlined 'Man cashes in on in-law's death sentence' on July 20.

Seeing the Daily Star report, Executive Director of RDRS (Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service) Kamaluddin Akbar in Dhaka telephoned it's officials in Nilphamari on the same day and asked them to look into the matter, its Senior Programme Manager here Liaquat Ali Khan told this correspondent.

On July 21, Liaquat Ali Khan and its Women Rights Protection official in Nilphamari Mejbahun Nahar met the two families.

But Rouf's father Mofizuddin refused to accept Salma. However he denied that he had demanded Tk one lakh as dowry to accept her.

Constable Sattar was hanged on September 1. Local people's sentiment went in favour of orphan Salma Akhtar. The RDRS officials told Rouf family that they would stand beside Salma and go for legal action.

Finally, Rouf's parents realised their fault and formally accepted Salma as their daughter-in-law on October 31.

This correspondent visited her at her husband's house on Wednes-day. She said she was happy.