Bangladesh: Police have apprehended five people, among them the main suspect, Fazor Ali, a local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), related to the rape of a 21-year-old Hindu woman in the Muradnagar upazila. Of the five, three were apprehended for filming and sharing a video of the rape survivor on social media.
The incident occurred on Thursday night (June 26) while the woman was by herself in her home located in Baherchar Pachkitta village of the Ramchandrapur Dakshin Union in the upazila. Her parents were away from home, while her spouse works and resides in Dubai.
The case statement indicates that Ali broke into the house after the survivor declined to let him in and attacked her. Residents caught and beat Ali, but he was able to escape the area.
A few of them recorded a video of the offense, capturing the victim briefly unclothed, and shared it on social media. Ali subsequently succeeded in fleeing from that place and then a complaint was lodged, he was arrested by the police.
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Fazor Ali was apprehended by police in the Saydabad region of Dhaka around 5 am on Sunday.
Certain reports mentioned that social media users claimed the Bangladesh police response was postponed until public anger escalated following the video’s distribution.
Massive protests in Bangladesh
A day after the brutal rape of the Hindu woman, students from Dhaka University organised massive protests and thronged the streets of the capital.
A video of one of the protests showed students clapping and shouting slogans, demanding “direct action” against the perpetrators.
Additionally, locals voice their outrage regarding the alleged rape by a Muslim individual of a Hindu woman.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP’s Secretary General, demanded stringent punishment for the offenders, highlighting the necessity for prompt and firm action.
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Minorities reside under fear in Bangladesh
In past few months, there has been a sudden rise in the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh with minorities living under extreme fear in the country.
A notable leader of the Hindu community was reportedly kidnapped from his residence and killed by beating in the Dinajpur district of northern Bangladesh. Roy served as the vice-president of the Biral branch of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a key leader within the local Hindu community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met with Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the Bangladeshi government, in Bangkok during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit and voiced India’s worries about the safety and security of minorities, including Hindus in Bangladesh, and conveyed his hope that any atrocities against them would be thoroughly examined.
However, the attacks on minorities especially Hindus continue to rise in Bangladesh and the government needs to take strict measures to stop the attacks.
