Chowdhury, Bangladesh — A woman named Sultana Khatun (26) is fighting for her life at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital after her husband allegedly poured boiling rice over her body in a horrific act of domestic violence. The brutal incident reportedly took place after Sultana refused to provide money demanded for her brother-in-law’s overseas travel expenses.Sultana’s body is severely burned from her neck down to her legs, with doctors estimating that around 30 percent of her skin has been damaged. She remains under intensive medical care and her condition is critical; doctors say it will take at least 72 hours to determine whether she will survive. Beside her is her three-month-old baby girl.
According to her family, Sultana’s husband, Robiul Biswas, pressured her to provide 200,000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately $2,000) from her parental home to help fund his younger brother Masud’s planned trip abroad. For the past three months, Sultana has been subjected to physical and mental abuse by her husband and mother-in-law over this money dispute.
On Monday morning, in a fit of rage, Robiul allegedly poured boiling rice on Sultana while his mother stood nearby. Neighbors alerted the family, who rushed to the husband’s home but were met with hostility from his relatives. With help from locals, they managed to rescue Sultana and admitted her first to a clinic in Kushtia. As her condition worsened, she was transferred to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital on Thursday morning.
Sultana’s brother, Sohel, said, “We are poor people. We gave them money for dowry and furniture when they married three years ago, but the abuse continued. Despite trying to resolve this through community elders, nothing has changed.”
Chuadanga Sadar Hospital’s Junior Surgery Consultant Dr. Ehsanul Haq Tamme said, “About 30 percent of her body has suffered burns. It’s too early to say if she will survive. She is under close observation.”
Kushtia’s Mirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mominul Islam said he was unaware of the incident but assured that if a complaint or case is filed, the police will take swift action.
Sultana’s family is demanding justice and a prompt investigation into the case.
