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A Bangladeshi man, Habibur Masum, 26, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the stabbing death of his wife, Kulsuma Akter, 27, who was attacked while pushing their baby in a pram. Masum told Bradford Crown Court he had intended to take his own life in front of her but "lost control" during a confrontation in Bradford on April 6 last year.
The court heard that Ms Akter had been staying in a refuge since January 2024, following an alleged incident in November 2023 where Masum reportedly held a knife to her throat. Masum, who located his wife through her phone, claims he was "missing them so dearly" and "really upset" the night before the attack, contemplating suicide. He stated his initial plan was to reconcile with his wife or, failing that, kill himself in front of her.
However, during their encounter, Masum claims he "lost control" after Ms Akter allegedly told him he didn't need to worry about their son having a father, implying someone else would take his place. Breaking down in tears, Masum stated he "totally lost control" and could only remember walking away with blood on his hands. He denies charges of murder, assault, threats to kill, and stalking, maintaining his plea of manslaughter and possession of a knife.
Masum also accused Ms Akter of making false domestic violence claims to secure her stay in the UK, asserting she did not want to return to Bangladesh unlike him, whose visa was expiring. The trial continues.
In November 2023, while Kulsuma was on maternity leave from her bakery job, police were called after Masum was accused of attacking her. The prosecution described this as "a chilling premonition of what he was to do the following April," revealing that Masum held a knife to Akhtar's throat and threatened to kill her while she was holding their child. A photo of an injury below his wife's left eye was also presented, which Masum told police Akhtar had inflicted upon herself. A social worker arranged to transfer Akhtar to another shelter, which was supposed to happen just two days after her death. On the day of the incident, before Iftar, Kulsuma, whose nickname is Shiuli, went out to buy food with her infant son. At this time, Masum, who was lying in wait, attacked Shiuli with a sharp knife. Their ancestral home is in Sylhet.
