The alleged rape of a 26-year-old Hindu woman in Bangladesh’s Cumilla district has triggered widespread public anger and renewed calls for action against gender-based violence, particularly involving vulnerable communities.
Reports state that the assault took place on Thursday night and that the accused, identified as Fazar Ali, has been arrested on charges of rape. Four others have been booked for allegedly recording and circulating a video of the assault, which surfaced online on Saturday night.
Taking note of the incident, the country's High Court on Monday directed authorities to ensure the removal of the video from all platforms and provide the survivor with immediate police protection and medical assistance. It also asked officials to submit a progress report on the investigation within 15 days.
According to police, the woman, a member of the country’s Hindu minority, had travelled with her children to visit her parents when the assault occurred. In her complaint, she alleged that the accused came to the house late Thursday and demanded that she open the door.
When she refused, he broke the door, entered the house and raped her.
Survivor support grows; political row intensifies
The case has led to protests in Dhaka and other parts of the country, with university students and civil society groups demanding swift justice.
Women’s rights group Naripokkho urged citizens to “break silence and resist violence against women,” while organisations such as Ain o-Salish Kendra and Manusher Jonno Foundation called for a “swift trial and exemplary punishment.”
Fazar Ali is reportedly a political supporter of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Photographs show him at the December 14 inauguration of BNP’s Ramchandrapur South Union office. Political sources said he had started attending BNP programmes after the Awami League lost power last year and had begun identifying himself as a BNP member.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, reacting to the case, said: “There is a dangerous conspiracy afoot to damage BNP's reputation.
” The party has yet to clarify whether Fazar was an official member. Fakhrul further claimed that the survivor was a Hindu expatriate's wife.
(With inputs from ToI)
Reports state that the assault took place on Thursday night and that the accused, identified as Fazar Ali, has been arrested on charges of rape. Four others have been booked for allegedly recording and circulating a video of the assault, which surfaced online on Saturday night.
Taking note of the incident, the country's High Court on Monday directed authorities to ensure the removal of the video from all platforms and provide the survivor with immediate police protection and medical assistance. It also asked officials to submit a progress report on the investigation within 15 days.
According to police, the woman, a member of the country’s Hindu minority, had travelled with her children to visit her parents when the assault occurred. In her complaint, she alleged that the accused came to the house late Thursday and demanded that she open the door.
When she refused, he broke the door, entered the house and raped her.
Survivor support grows; political row intensifies
The case has led to protests in Dhaka and other parts of the country, with university students and civil society groups demanding swift justice.
Women’s rights group Naripokkho urged citizens to “break silence and resist violence against women,” while organisations such as Ain o-Salish Kendra and Manusher Jonno Foundation called for a “swift trial and exemplary punishment.”
Fazar Ali is reportedly a political supporter of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Photographs show him at the December 14 inauguration of BNP’s Ramchandrapur South Union office. Political sources said he had started attending BNP programmes after the Awami League lost power last year and had begun identifying himself as a BNP member.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, reacting to the case, said: “There is a dangerous conspiracy afoot to damage BNP's reputation.
” The party has yet to clarify whether Fazar was an official member. Fakhrul further claimed that the survivor was a Hindu expatriate's wife.
(With inputs from ToI)
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