Even divorce could not keep her safe

Arifun Nesa

Arifun Nesa Arifa married her childhood-friend-turned lover without her parents' consent and then quickly became disillusioned as she was subjected to abuse and torture. She finally divorced her husband to escape from the soured marriage.

Nearly six months later, the 25-year-old banker was seen bleeding from a stab injury to her neck yesterday in her Central Road residence in the capital.

As she was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, she died of excessive blood loss. But before her death she told police that her husband Khan Firobin alias Robin made the attack on her, said Bachchu Miah, in-charge of DMCH police camp.

Just like any other day she left her rented flat on the ground floor, where she lived with her mother, around 8:30am for office, said the guard who was on duty at the time at the compound. 

Minutes later, she and Robin walked in. The caretaker went to his room for a while and when he came out he heard some people screaming inside one of the buildings in the compound. The guard, who requested for anonymity, then saw neighbours carrying Arifa out as she was bleeding profusely.  

The CCTV footage collected by police shows that Robin entered the compound with Arifa but left alone, said Inspector Samir of Kalabagan Police Station.

Since the divorce, Robin had been pestering Arifa to get back together. But Arifa was firm in her decision, which infuriated Robin, said the victim's elder brother Bulbul and friends at the hospital.

She had been threatened by her ex-husband on several occasions. Concerned over safety of herself, Arifa lodged a general diary with Kalabagan Police Station.

Her childhood friend Tanzina Afrin said Robin approached her on the street about two weeks ago and said brandishing a knife that she should keep it, otherwise he might kill her with it.

The relationship between Arifa and Robin didn't get this worse overnight. They grew up in the same neighbourhood in Jamalpur when they got close to each other.

Four years ago they got married and went to Robin's house in Jamalpur.  Arifa, who was then a 2nd year student in Eden College, came back to Dhaka a couple of months later and started living with her mother due to torture by the husband and in-laws, Tanzina said.