Ex-husband held for attacking councillor with sharp weapon

A councillor of Cumilla City Corporation was allegedly attacked by her former husband at the town's Muradpur yesterday.  

Injured Nehar Begum is a reserved-seat councillor for wards 16-18. She is being treated at Cumilla Medical College Hospital (CuMCH).

Police arrested the ex-husband, Rafikul Islam Rukku, from Chawkbazar Bus Stand area, in the afternoon, said Jakir Hossain, in-charge of  Chawkbazar police outpost. The family also filed a case with Kotwali Police Station against Rafikul  and some unidentified persons. 

Quoting his mother, Nehar's son Jahirul Islam Sumon said Rafikul tried to slash her throat with a box cutter when she went for a morning walk in front of their house.

"Luckily, the cutter injured the side of her neck, which left a long cut. Due to the attack, she fell on the road and he fled. Locals rescued and took her to the hospital," he said.

The family alleged that Rafikul was involved in different objectionable activities and often quarrelled with them. Due to these reasons, in 2018, Nehar filed for divorce, they added.

Meanwhile, the councillor is out of danger now, said doctors at the hospital.

Dr Mushfiq Ahmed, who was on emergency duty at the hospital, said, "We had to put 30 stitches on her neck. A sharp lethal weapon was used for the attack."