Dhaka, Nov 22 (V7N) – Police in Ashulia, Savar, have detained three individuals, including a woman who filed a case falsely claiming her husband had been murdered, even though he was alive.

Kulsum Akter, 21, the plaintiff, alleged she was coerced into filing the fabricated case under the guise of securing employment. She was apprehended in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday night. Kulsum, daughter of Abdul Khalek from Shingzuri, Gior, Manikganj district, was accompanied in custody by Ruhul Amin, 64, and Shafiuddin, 40, also from Manikganj.

Kulsum stated she had been living with her husband, Mohammad Al Amin, in Sylhet before moving to Manikganj on August 28 in search of work. She encountered Shafiuddin during her journey, who offered his contact information and promised to assist her in finding a job.

According to Kulsum, Shafiuddin later informed her of a job opportunity, requesting her birth certificate and certification from the chairman. She was subsequently brought to Dhaka, where Shafiuddin and Ruhul Amin coerced her into becoming the plaintiff in a case alleging her husband’s murder. Threats of harm forced her compliance.

The suspects kept Kulsum in Cox’s Bazar after she testified in court that her husband was the deceased. Although she briefly returned home, Shafiuddin and Ruhul Amin took her back to Cox’s Bazar, where they were later arrested.

Kulsum declared: "I was threatened and forced to act as the plaintiff in this case. I don’t know the accused or who the deceased is."

Shafiuddin claimed ignorance of the case, stating: "I only introduced Kulsum to Ruhul Amin for a job."

One of the accused, Liakat Dewan, came forward, alleging financial transactions to alter the case details. He stated, “I was listed as the 57th accused. Ruhul Amin's son demanded Tk2 lakh per person to remove names from the case. Collectively, Tk17 lakh was paid.”

Officer-in-Charge Abu Bakar Siddique of Ashulia police station confirmed the arrests, stating that Kulsum was sent to court to provide a confessional statement, while the other two were under interrogation.

The case, filed by Kulsum on October 24 at Dhaka's Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, accused 130 people of murdering her husband. It was recorded at Ashulia police station on November 8.

END/MSS/AJ