Sylhet woman dies after son’s beating; 4 members injured

A 63-year-old woman died while undergoing treatment after being allegedly beaten by her son over demands for money and the transfer of family property into his name in Zakiganj upazila of Sylhet.

The deceased, Piara Begum, wife of late Faizul Islam of Pangabot village in Zakiganj municipal area, died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital around midnight on Sunday.

Four other family members, including a two-and-a-half-year-old child, were also seriously injured in the attack.

Police arrested the prime accused, Sumon Ahmed, 32, from his home shortly after the incident. He was produced before Senior Judicial Magistrate Ibrahim Sarkar’s court in Zakiganj on Sunday, which ordered him to be sent to jail.

According to police and family members, the incident followed an altercation on Friday, October 23, when Sumon allegedly struck his stepmother, Kutina Begum, 45, with a wooden pole, injuring her eyes.

Piara later took Kutina to the house of another son, Shahin Ahmed, to protect her from further attacks.

At around 11pm on Saturday, Sumon allegedly demanded money from family members again and insisted that they transfer their land and property into his name.

An altercation broke out, during which he allegedly attacked them with a wooden stick, injuring Piara, Kutina, Shahin, 38, Shahin’s wife, Shahana Begum, 32, and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Israt Jahan.

Local residents rescued the injured and took them to Zakiganj Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

On Sunday morning, Shahin filed a case naming Sumon and another brother, Shamim Ahmed, 47, as accused.

Muhammad Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Zakiganj Police Station, said a murder charge would be added to the case under the Penal Code following Piara’s death.

Several other cases were also pending against Sumon at the police station, he said.

Family members said Sumon had a history of drug abuse and frequently harassed them for money.

Shahin said his wife and daughter were in critical condition.