She thought she’d finally found safety.
After months of fear, violence, and threats, 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter had managed to get away.
She was living in a women’s refuge, trying to rebuild her life and protect her seven-month-old baby.
But the man she was running from — her controlling and dangerous husband, Habibur Masum — was still watching.
Despite a court order and countless red flags, Masum tracked her down and murdered her in broad daylight.
Today, he’s been convicted of murder, but the tragedy that unfolded could have been prevented.
Smiling After Slaughter: The Moment That Shocked the Nation
On April 6, 2024, in the middle of the day, Kulsuma was walking through a Bradford street with her child in a pram and a friend by her side.
She likely thought she was safe.
Masum was supposed to be in Spain.
But to her horror, he suddenly appeared.
What happened next was captured on CCTV and shown in court.
Masum pulled a knife from his jacket, shoved Kulsuma against a wall, and stabbed her more than 25 times.
Then, as if the horror wasn’t enough, he slit her throat.
Her screams echoed as her baby sat helpless in the pram nearby.
Masum then casually walked away, boarded a bus, and — shockingly — smiled as he did it.
A History of Control, Jealousy, and Violence
This wasn’t a random act of rage. Masum’s abuse had been escalating for months.
He was known to be jealous, obsessive, and extremely controlling.
He banned his wife from wearing makeup, stalked her phone constantly, and even forbade her from drinking tea — simply because he didn’t like it.
At one point, he told her directly: “I am going to murder you.”
That was five months before the fatal attack.
Back in November 2023, Masum had already been charged with assault and threats to kill.
He had cornered his wife while she was holding their baby, put a knife to her throat, and demanded she explain a text message from a colleague.
Terrified, she held their child close and prayed he wouldn’t go through with it.
The Missed Opportunity to Lock Him Away
Just two days later, Masum was arrested and taken to court.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) urged magistrates to keep him in custody.
But shockingly, he was granted bail.
This decision proved deadly. Kulsuma was moved to a secret refuge with her child.
But Masum, obsessed and determined, hunted her down using a small mistake: she had forgotten to disable her Snapchat location.
A Final Act of Violence Just Days Before a New Life
Kulsuma was only two days away from being rehoused permanently — a step toward freedom and stability.
But on April 6, believing Masum was far away, she let her guard down and went out.
That’s when he struck.
CCTV footage presented in court showed the brutal nature of the attack.
Prosecutor Steven Wood KC told the jury Masum didn’t just kill — he “revelled in it.”
The footage even showed him kicking her lifeless body before discarding the knife and walking away.
He Claimed It Was Depression — But the Court Saw Through It
Masum tried to explain away the attack by saying he was depressed.
He even claimed that the knife was for self-harm, not murder. But the jury didn’t buy it.
Prosecutors made it clear: this wasn’t about mental illness — it was about control, jealousy, and rage.
He’d made threats before, he’d carried knives before, and he’d even told doctors he “felt like killing” his wife.
His smile as he boarded that bus, the lack of distress after the murder, and his swift change of appearance to avoid capture told the real story.
A Pattern of Abuse Everyone Saw — But Few Could Stop
The relationship between Masum and Kulsuma had always been volatile.
They met and married in Bangladesh, moved to the UK in 2022, and were supposed to start a new life.
But by November 2023, things had spiraled.
Kulsuma’s sister-in-law testified that she was isolated, restricted, and afraid.
Masum didn’t want her working, didn’t like her wearing makeup, and frequently checked her phone.
After arguments, he would threaten “crazy things” and even asked where the kitchen knife was — a chilling hint of what was coming.
She Tried to Leave — But It Wasn’t Enough
Like many victims of domestic abuse, Kulsuma tried to escape.
She stayed with relatives.
She went to the authorities.
She even told social workers she feared for her life.
But Masum always found a way back in — through emotional manipulation, threats, or outright violence.
Even after he was arrested and formally warned, he was released.
And while she was placed in hiding, he was free to roam — and plot.
The Final Verdict: Justice Comes Too Late
After a trial at Bradford Crown Court, Habibur Masum was found guilty of murder, assault, stalking, and making threats to kill.
He had already admitted to manslaughter and carrying a knife, but denied he intended to murder his wife.
The jury rejected his defense and reached a unanimous verdict after just over five hours.
In court, Masum wiped tears from his eyes — tears that didn’t appear the day he left his wife bleeding to death on the street.
A Mother Lost, A Child Left Behind, and Questions That Remain
Today, Kulsuma’s family mourns a daughter, a sister, and a young mother who tried everything to escape the violence.
Her baby, now without a mother, was left alone in a pram on the day of her murder.
There’s also public outrage at how the justice system failed her.
The decision to grant Masum bail, despite all the warning signs, remains under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
What Happens Next?
Masum will be sentenced at a later date and faces life in prison.
But for many, including Kulsuma’s loved ones and advocates against domestic violence, the story doesn’t end with a conviction.
It’s a reminder — and a warning — that when victims speak up, every threat must be taken seriously.
Because for Kulsuma, the system heard her cries for help. But it didn’t act in time.