The heartbroken mother of a woman who was stabbed to death in front of her five-month-old son has described her ‘heartbreak’ in an exclusive interview with MailOnline.
Monwara Begum, 60, paid tribute to daughter Kulsuma Akter, 27, as it emerged that the family of her suspected killer had fled their home fearing a revenge attack by her relatives.
Habibur Masum, 25, was arrested by police in Aylesbury on Wednesday, three days after Kulsuma was stabbed to death while shopping in Bradford last Saturday.
But neighbors said his parents have now disappeared from their home following news of Kulsuma’s murder and arrest. Masum was subsequently charged with murder on Wednesday evening.
Monwara tearfully told MailOnline from her village near the city of Sylhet, in Bangladesh: ‘I’m still in shock, my heart is broken, she was my youngest daughter and I adored her immensely.
Kulsuma Akter’s mother, Monwara Begum (pictured) tearfully told MailOnline that her ‘heart is broken’ after her daughter’s death
Floral tributes left outside a shop in Westgate, Bradford, near where Kulsuma was stabbed to death
Habibur Masum (pictured) is questioned by police about the stabbing after being the subject of a major manhunt
“She took care of me when my eldest daughter got married (Kulsuma’s father lives in Saudi Arabia) and she would get my medicine and do everything for me.
‘When she moved to Britain, I was alone, but Kulsuma called me every day by video. The only day I didn’t hear from her was the day she was attacked.’
She added, “All I want now is a trial and I want Kulsuma to get the justice in death that she didn’t get when she was alive.”
Kulsuma’s brother Anwar said his sister had moved after they contacted British authorities with concerns about her safety.
He added that a few days before she was attacked, the Masum’s younger brother called her and “told her that he (Masum) had gone to Spain.”
When MailOnline later went to the village where Masum’s parents live, a resident said: ‘They are gone, they left a few days ago when the news broke.
“They were afraid of being attacked, we haven’t seen them since it happened.”
Her brother Hossain said on Tuesday the family was “completely devastated” by her loss.
Speaking to MailOnline, he said: ‘We are heartbroken and completely devastated. We can’t even talk and have been crying all the time since this happened.
‘We had to call our mother in Bangladesh to tell her the news. Can you imagine what this was like for us? I can’t believe my sister is dead. I’m sorry, I can’t talk anymore.’
Ms Akter’s cousin Aftab Miah also revealed that she had a traditional arranged marriage to Habibur Masum in Bangladesh just over two years ago.
Kulsuma Akter’s cousin Aftab Miah (pictured) paid tribute to the mother, calling her a “sweet girl” who “always smiled”
The scene in Westgate, Bradford, on Saturday after Mrs Akter was brutally stabbed to death in broad daylight while pushing her son in a pram
He then came to Britain to study and she accompanied him as a dependent.
The couple lived in Oldham in a flat above a shop. Ms Akter has two older brothers who live in the city, as well as a sister and another brother in Bangladesh. She was the youngest of five siblings.
Mr Miah revealed that she did not work, spoke limited English and was dependent on her husband for her financial survival.
Mr Miah, 53, added: ‘She was a lovely girl and had a great personality. She was always smiling and loved to make people laugh.
‘We will miss her very much and her death has hit us all very hard. But married life became quite difficult for her.”
He added: “The family are scattered all over the world and cannot even get together at this very difficult time. I cannot put into words the pain they are going through. It’s terrible.’
He said Ms Akter’s son was born six months ago and was currently being cared for by relatives. He refused to name the baby.
Mr Miah praised the efforts of the police, but called for a more comprehensive investigation into the events leading to Ms Akter’s murder.
Police officers in white forensic gear stand inside a cordon at the scene of the stabbing in Bradford
Officers stormed a housing association building in Burnley on Sunday and carried out a thorough search of the garden on Monday.
This second home was raided at the same time as the previous home
Masum, from the town of Sylhet in eastern Bangladesh, studied for a masters in digital marketing at the University of Bedfordshire, and videos show him celebrating his graduation
He said: ‘The family just want justice to be done and are pleased that police arrested him quickly. It’s a great relief for all of us.’
He added: “Kulsama thought she was in a safe place, but tragically this was not the case. You can’t understand something like that and it will take a long time to get over her loss.’
Police arrested 25-year-old Masum on Tuesday after a major manhunt and on Wednesday evening he was charged with Kulsama’s murder.
West Yorkshire Police said: “Habibur Masum, 25, of Leamington Avenue, Burnley has this evening been charged with murder and possession of a bladed article,” according to a statement.
‘He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Bradford Magistrates Court tomorrow.’
The suspect, from Oldham, was arrested in the early hours of this morning in the Aylesbury area, 180 miles from Bradford. Locals say he is the child’s father and Facebook says he is married.
Masum appeared at Tameside Magistrates’ Court last November charged with assault and threatening to kill Ms Akter, but was released on bail.
Prosecutors called for Masum to be taken into custody after he pleaded not guilty to the charges, it emerged Tuesday.
However, his lawyer argued that he should not be jailed and magistrates agreed to grant Masum conditional bail, on the grounds that he should not have contact with the victim and any other family member, and not go to a specific address in Oldham would go.
The case was postponed for ten months, after which Masum had to appear before the JPs on September 30.
Habibur Masum is a wannabe blogger who previously posted videos of shopping in Primark
Online, Masum paints a picture of himself as an enthusiastic traveler who enjoys discovering new cultures
The police have already arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an perpetrator.
Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Police have both referred themselves to the Independent Officer for Police Conduct over their previous contact with Masum and Ms Akter.
Masum, from the town of Sylhet in eastern Bangladesh, studied for a masters in digital marketing at the University of Bedfordshire and shares travel vlogs about his ‘adventures’ and life in Britain with his fourteen YouTube subscribers.