A housewife in Feni, whose husband being an activist of the Awami League gave her verbal talaq after she voted against his wishes in the last parliamentary election, remains in uncertainty with her three children more than a month after the incident.

Bibi Johura has been forced to live separately from her husband since February 13. She is currently staying with her mother-in-law along with her children.

Her husband, Ismail Hossain Kawsar, has reportedly left the area following resistance from local residents.

Community leaders and religious figures are working to resolve the dispute and bring the family together again.

On Friday evening, BNP National Executive Committee member Moshiur Rahman Biplob visited Johura and assured her of support through the Amra BNP Poribar (Our BNP Family), the party's outreach programme for those who suffer as a result of supporting them. It was started to take care of family members of slain or jailed party activists during the repressive era of the Awami League.

Biplob said steps would be taken to build her a new house and provide monthly financial assistance. He also promised to bear the educational expenses of her three children.

Biplob said the matter is being followed up by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, adding that party leaders are expected to visit Feni next week to begin implementing the commitments.

Earlier, BNP leaders visited Johura’s home on February 14 and pledged to take responsibility for her family’s expenses and support efforts to restore the marriage.

According to locals, the incident occurred during the 13th national election when Kawsar, a resident of Bamstola area under Dharmapur union and president of the Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League in Ward No 9, barred his wife from going to the polling centre.

Defying the restriction, Johura went to the polling station with her three children and cast her vote around 9:30am while Kawsar was asleep.

He later learned about it from locals in the afternoon.

In the evening, after confirming the matter with his wife, Kawsar became angry and pronounced verbal triple talaq on a nearby road, asking her not to return home.

The incident sparked outrage among locals, who reportedly assaulted and detained Kawsar.

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He later left the area after saying he would withdraw the divorce.

Johura married Kawsar in 2013. The couple has three children.

Since the separation, Johura has been struggling to support her family and is working in others’ homes to make ends meet, locals said.