Mass protests in Bangladesh after Hindu woman raped by local politician
Dhaka: Massive protests erupted across Bangladesh on Sunday after a video of a Hindu woman being brutally raped in Cumilla district went viral on social media, sparking nationwide outrage. The incident occurred on June 26, when a 21-year-old woman was assaulted at her parental home in Cumilla’s Muradnagar sub-district by Fazor Ali, 36, a local Awami League politician. The crime gained national attention only after disturbing footage of the woman—stripped and pleading—surfaced online. Police have arrested five individuals so far, including the main accused. Cumilla's police chief, Nazir Ahmed Khan, said Ali was captured during a predawn raid in Dhaka’s Sayedabad area, while four others were held for leaking the victim’s identity on social media. According to police, the survivor’s husband, who works in Dubai, had returned for the local Hari Seva festival and was visiting her parents with their children. On the night of July 16, Ali allegedly broke into the house and raped her. Locals reportedly caught and beat him, but instead of handing him to the police, took him to a hospital—where he later escaped. Some media outlets allege police only acted after the assault video went viral. Students from Dhaka University led protests across the capital. Marches were held on campus, and residents of Jagannath Hall—home to many minority students—took out processions demanding justice. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), called for “exemplary punitive action” against those responsible. The High Court ordered immediate removal of the viral video and directed authorities to provide the survivor with full security and medical treatment. Since the fall of the Awami League government in August last year, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in violence against minority communities. The regime’s ousted leader, Sheikh Hasina, fled to India on August 5 following a mass uprising led by Students Against Discrimination. Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus assumed charge of the interim government three days later.
