21-year-old Hindu woman raped in Bangladesh, 5 arrested

Dhaka: In a disturbing incident highlighting the deteriorating safety of minorities and women in Bangladesh, a 21-year-old Hindu woman was allegedly raped by a local Awami League politician, triggering public outrage and renewed concerns over the treatment of religious minorities under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The incident occurred on the night of June 26 in Ramchandrapur Panchkitta village, under Muradnagar upazila in Comilla district, when Fazor Ali, 38, a local leader of the now-banned Bangladesh Awami League (BAL), forcibly entered the victim’s father’s home and sexually assaulted her. The woman, whose husband works in Dubai, was staying with her children at her parental home during the Hari Seva festival. Locals reportedly apprehended and beat Ali, but he managed to flee. A case was filed the next day under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, and police launched a manhunt. Ali was arrested in Dhaka’s Saydabad area at around 5am on Sunday, according to police sources. Police have also arrested four other individuals for filming and circulating a video of the victim online, in which she is seen naked and pleading for protection. “Some people present at the scene immediately recorded a video of the victim and spread it on social media,” said a statement from Muradnagar police, confirming legal action is being taken against all five arrested. The incident has sparked protests in the region, especially among Hindu community members, who say the crime is another example of targeted attacks on minorities. Since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, cases of violence against Hindus and other minority groups have sharply increased, activists claim. On May 31, the Sammilita Sanatan Parishad, an alliance of Hindu organisations, held a protest and human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, condemning rising violence and persecution of minorities. The incident also drew sharp attention from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a June 27 media briefing, reiterated India’s concern over the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh following a series of incidents, including the demolition of a Durga temple in Dhaka. “Let me underline that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus, their properties, and religious institutions,” Jaiswal said. In addition to religious violence, women’s rights activists have raised alarm over the increasing vulnerability of women in the country. On May 16, thousands of women marched under the slogan “A March of Solidarity at the Call of Women” (Nariyer Dake Maitri Yatra) at Manik Mia Avenue near the Parliament building in Dhaka, demanding equality, dignity, and safety for women. The rally denounced attempts to deprive women of rights in the name of religion. The rape of the young Hindu woman, combined with the public dissemination of her video, has intensified criticism of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, with critics accusing it of failing to protect both minority communities and women from violence and social degradation. As the 2026 general election approaches, pressure is mounting on Dhaka to demonstrate its commitment to justice, minority rights, and women’s safety, amid growing fears of rising religious extremism and political impunity.