Pregnant Housewife Dies in ICU Nine Days After Alleged Beating in Patiya Dispute Over Snacks

Sifatun Nur, 22, a housewife three months pregnant, has died nine days after she was allegedly beaten at her in-laws' home in Patiya, Chattogram, following a dispute over serving too little food to guests. She died on Friday (October 23) at noon while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital.

Her family has accused three people, including her mother-in-law, of carrying out the beating. Police say the complaint will be investigated and legal action taken against those involved.

According to the family, Sifatun, daughter of Md Nur of Chandanaish municipality, was married about five months ago in a family-arranged match to Md Tarek, 26, an expatriate in Dubai from East Kusumpura village under Kusumpura union in Patiya. With her husband abroad, she had been living at her in-laws' home.

Her family alleges she had faced physical and mental abuse at the in-laws' home since the marriage. On October 14, at around 7:30pm, her mother Juhinur Akter, 55, brought homemade snacks to the house. An argument broke out over the quantity of the snacks being too small.

The family claims her mother-in-law Rizia Begum, 60, beat Sifatun's mother, while Rasheda Begum, 55, and Sumi Akter, 52, allegedly grabbed Sifatun by the hair, threw her to the ground and beat her. Hearing their screams, neighbours rushed in and rescued the mother and daughter.

Family members said Sifatun's condition worsened that same night and she was admitted to CMC Hospital. She was later treated in the ICU in an unconscious state. After nine consecutive days of treatment, she died at around 1:30pm on Friday.

Her mother Juhinur Akter filed a written complaint at Patiya Police Station on October 14, naming three people including the mother-in-law as accused.

Sifatun's father Md Nur claimed that after the beating, an attempt was made to divert the incident by spreading word that his daughter had tried to kill herself. He demanded a proper investigation to uncover the true facts and action against those involved.

Patiya Police Station's officer-in-charge Md Ziaul Haque said a complaint of beating the housewife was received on October 14, and he has learned she died while under treatment at the hospital. The core of the incident will be investigated and legal action taken against the culprits, he said.

The death of a young housewife married only five months ago has spread grief and anger in the area. A dispute over something as trivial as snacks leading to a beating, and then to the death of a pregnant woman, has once again laid bare a grim picture of domestic abuse.

The family now awaits the outcome of the investigation. Matching the beating complaint, the hospital's treatment records and witness accounts to uncover what really happened will be the first step toward justice, those concerned believe.