Schoolteacher on Hunger Strike at Assistant Judge Lover's Lalmonirhat Home Demanding Marriage, Lover Flees
A schoolteacher has begun a hunger strike at her lover's home in Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat, demanding marriage after a long 11-year relationship. On hearing that his lover had come to the house, the lover — an assistant judge — fled from home.
On Friday (October 23) noon, the teacher took position at the house of assistant judge Yunus Ali at Zahir Mor area of Ward 5 of Tongbhanga Union in Hatibandha Upazila. She was continuing the hunger strike as of Saturday noon, when this report was written.
The teacher on hunger strike is Anika Tabassum Prapti (29). She is the daughter of Zakir Hossain Laskar of Ward 1 of Tongbhanga Union in Hatibandha Upazila. She works as an assistant teacher at Haragachh High School in Rangpur.
Local people said Yunus Ali is the fourth son of Joynal Abedin of Zahir Mor area of Ward 5 of Tongbhanga Union. He works as an assistant judge (civil judge) at Bogura Judge Court. Locals say he fled as soon as he heard his lover had come to the house.
Anika Tabassum Prapti claimed she has had a love relationship with Yunus Ali for a long 11 years. Yunus Ali joined service as an assistant judge three years ago. Prapti, on the other hand, was appointed as a secondary school teacher about a year ago.
The teacher alleged that although she had been pressing for marriage for a long time, Yunus Ali has been stalling with various excuses. This allegation has emerged as the main reason for the hunger strike.
According to Prapti, she recently learned that Yunus Ali was secretly looking for a bride elsewhere for marriage, and being compelled, she took position at his house on Friday noon. But Yunus Ali went into hiding as soon as he got news of her arrival.
The incident of a schoolteacher sitting in a hunger strike at her lover's house in this way has sparked wide discussion in the area. As both the teacher and the assistant judge are professionally established, the incident has drawn even more attention.
Hatibandha Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Mosharraf Hossain said attempts are under way to settle the matter locally. No complaint has been received from the girl's family in this regard. He said legal action would definitely be taken if a complaint is received.
Yunus Ali could not be reached despite multiple calls to his mobile phone to know his side. As a result, no statement from him on the allegations could be obtained.
As the hunger strike continued until Saturday noon, local people are watching which way the situation turns. The outcome of the hunger strike depends on whether the local settlement attempt succeeds.
A teacher's public hunger strike demanding marriage after an 11-year relationship has not only sparked discussion in the area, it has also raised questions over the allegation of a broken promise. Everyone now awaits the next step.
