Mehboob threatened his wife.

Mehbul Hasan and Nasrin Akter Ifti, the victims of the attack in the capital’s Uttara, went viral as husband and wife. However, Mehbul Hasan’s wife Shampa Begum said that they were husband and wife. Mehbul threatened his wife after informing reporters on Wednesday.

Mehbul Hasan called his wife Shampa Begum’s mobile phone from the hospital and said, “You have to play the role of a wife now. I can’t survive, you are playing the role of a wife. Isn’t that right? And if I call you to the media, you will say that you are a wife. And you don’t understand that you want to come to the media.”

Shampa Begum told Mehbul Hasan, who was working in event management, “I didn’t tell the media. Where can I get the media number?”

Threatening his wife, Mehbul said, “You are doing well if you don’t listen to those whose wisdom you are not listening to. Please pray that I get well.’

Mehbul asked Shampa, ‘Do you have to become a wife now?’

In response, Shampa said, ‘Should I become a wife or will someone else become a wife?’

At the press conference, Shampa Begum said that she has been married to Mehbul Hasan for more than eight years. They got married in 2016. They have two daughters, one aged four and the other five.

Crying, Shampa Begum said, ‘My family was doing well, but for some time now the family has been in chaos.’

Shampa said that the family problems are due to Ifti, ‘When a third party gets involved, then a natural change of mind will come.’

Shampa Begum said, ‘My husband did not marry that girl. My mother-in-law called a while ago and threatened me. She is saying from her in-laws’ house, “My husband does not want to see my face. He will see me when he gets well.” She is saying these things.’

Shampa said, ‘My mother-in-law keeps asking, why am I cooperating with you (journalists). I have revealed to you that I am his wife, it is my crime.’

Mehbul left the house at around 10 am on the day of the incident. His wife Shampa Begum said, ‘He used to come home even before the 17th. But he sometimes doesn’t stay. When I asked him, he said, “I am at work.”’

She also said, ‘When that incident happened, I was shocked. All the people of Bangladesh are praising that woman. But I am getting hyena, the children are getting hyena. The children are 4 and 5 years old. Where will I go with these children?’

In response to the question of whether she still wants to have a family with Mehbul, Shampa said, ‘Of course. No girl wants her family to break up. I am not going to let him leave me yet. I still want him to live happily with me and my children.’

The attack took place in Uttara at around 10:30 pm last Monday. A video of it went viral on social media. It shows two youths hitting Mehbul Hasan with a ramda. At that time, the woman named Ifti is apologizing to them with folded hands. She stood as a shield to protect Mehbul. At one stage of the incident, the local mob caught the two youths who attacked and beat them up and handed them over to the police. Later, the police arrested all of them.