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India Today
04-07-2025
- India Today
Bangladesh sees 24 rape cases in 9 days; Government adviser calls it crisis
Violence against women is becoming a concern in Bangladesh. Between June 20 and June 29, there were at least 24 reported rape cases across the country, according to Dhanka Tribune. The rise in cases has led a senior government adviser to call it a "pandemic-level crisis."Sharmeen S Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, shared concerns during a press briefing on Thursday. Speaking at the secretariat, she said, "I have been working on violence against women and children for 40 years. Governments have come and gone, but none have been able to tackle the issue."advertisementTo address the crisis, the government has decided to set up quick response teams at the upazila (sub-district) level. These teams will be led by Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs). "Following the rape of a housewife in Muradnagar, Comilla, a quick response team has already been deployed under the local UNO's leadership," said Murshid. She stated that the ministry has received 281,000 complaints through its toll-free hotline over the past 10–11 months. However, a lack of staff has made it difficult to respond to every call. The adviser also promised that response teams would now act faster. "If an incident occurs, a response team will be deployed within 24 hours," she said. She added that the ministry would no longer work in an ad hoc way. Officials will now go beyond districts to reach villages and unions to make sure every victim receives ISSUES: DRUGS, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIAL PROBLEMSMurshid pointed out that the root causes of the crisis are complex and deep-rooted. "The roots lie in politics, drugs, technology, and social degradation. The unchecked access to mobile phones and pornography is distorting children's minds," she shared a heartbreaking example to show how serious the problem is: "A 10-year-old child has sexually assaulted a two-and-a-half-year-old girl. How can we even explain this? The child doesn't even understand what he has done."Murshid expressed serious concern about the lack of control over harmful content. "Are we truly able to protect our children? We can no longer hide from this complex social problem, which demands both counselling and medical attention," she said. She further added, "If the rest of the world can regulate (pornography), why not Bangladesh?"She also said madrasas, religious schools, must be monitored more carefully. "Madrasas often remain out of sight, but child sexual abuse is taking place there too. We're not getting the data. Our officials will now go directly to schools and madrasas to ensure accountability," she said that although Bangladesh has strong laws, such as Section 14 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, violence continues to rise. "Violence is being committed in families, workplaces, public spaces, and online," she said. "Offensive video clips are aired, which is a violation of the law. Instead, it is the perpetrators—rapists and abusers—whose identities must be exposed."GANG-RAPE CASE SPARKS PROTESTSadvertisementAmid a rise in sexual violence, a gang-rape incident involving a Hindu woman in central Bangladesh sparked protests. The incident was filmed and spread online, sparking anger across the to police and media reports, a local politician named Fazor Ali broke into the victim's home while she was visiting her paternal family in Muradnagar, Cumilla district, and sexually assaulted this year, the death of an eight-year-old girl after being raped also triggered nationwide protests.- Ends
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bangladesh students march over Muradnagar rape case; suspect arrested
A torchlight procession lit up Dhaka University's campus this Sunday as students rallied in protest over a rape case in Muradnagar, Cumilla. The Democratic Students' Alliance (DSA) led the march from the TSC to the Raju sculpture, reported Prothom Alo, demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the assault on a 25‑year‑old mother. DSA leaders warned that the interim government cannot evade responsibility for 'an unsafe environment for women' across Bangladesh . In a related development, the High Court has ordered immediate protection for the Muradnagar survivor and demanded that all photos and video footage of her be removed from social media within 24 hours . In response to the petition filed by lawyer Mir AKM Nurunnabi, the court directed authorities to report progress in the case within 15 days . Following the High Court's directive, law enforcement officials arrested the main suspect, 36-year-old Md Fazor Ali early on Sunday . Four others —Sumon, Romzan, Md Arif, and Md Anik— were detained for filming and circulating the footage of the incident. Cumilla SP Nazir Ahmed Khan confirmed that legal action would be taken under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 . A woman was allegedly raped by Fazor Ali, a local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla district on the night of June 26, 2025. According to the police and case statements cited by The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the incident took place while the woman was staying at her father's house with her children for the Hari Seva festival. Her husband was reportedly working in Dubai at the time. Fazor Ali, who was known for stalking the woman during her previous visits to the village, allegedly broke into the house at night, raped her at knifepoint, and threatened to kill her if she disclosed the assault. Locals rushed to the scene after hearing the woman's screams and physically confronted Ali, but he managed to flee, despite being injured, the police said. A case was filed the next day under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The survivor underwent medical tests at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, and a formal investigation was launched by Muradnagar police. According to the officials, Fazor Ali was arrested from Dhaka's Saydabad area early Sunday morning. The case took a disturbing turn when a video of the survivor, reportedly recorded by bystanders during the immediate aftermath of the incident, was circulated on social media, triggering public outrage. (Sources: Prothom Alo, The Daily Star)
India Today
30-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Massive protest in Bangladesh after Hindu woman raped by local politician
A day after the brutal rape of a Hindu woman by a local Bangladeshi politician came to light, 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 far, the police have arrested five individuals, including the main accused, Fazor Ali-a member of the Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-in connection with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Cumilla. advertisement Out of the five arrested, three were taken into custody for recording and sharing a video of the victim on social incident occurred on June 26, 2025, when Fazor Ali, 38, from Ramchandrapur Pachkitta village, allegedly broke into the survivor's father's house around 10 survivor, whose husband is working in Dubai, was staying at her father's home with her children for the local festival Hari to the case statement, Ali forcibly entered the house after the victim refused to open the door and assaulted her. Locals apprehended and beat Ali, but he managed to flee the arrested Fazor Ali in Dhaka's Saydabad area at approximately 5 am on Sunday.A case has been filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act based on the survivor's written complaint, lodged on June 27. The Muradnagar police have launched a probe in the the incident has sparked protests in the region with residents expressing anger over the alleged assault by a Muslim man on a Hindu woman. Since the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there has been a noticeable rise in targeted attacks against the Hindu community in Bangladesh.- Ends
News18
29-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Hindu Woman Allegedly Raped In Bangladesh's Comilla, BNP Leader Arrested Amid Protests
Last Updated: Fazor Ali, a local BNP leader, allegedly entered the house of the victim on Thursday night and raped her, after which locals intervened and thrashed him before he managed to flee. A 27-year-old Hindu woman was allegedly raped at her residence at a village of Muradnagar upazila in Bangladesh's Comilla district on Saturday night, sparking protests by students of Dhaka University. The incident took place on June 26 and came to light after a video of the naked woman being brutally assaulted and pleading with her attackers went viral on social media. Police have arrested five individuals, including Fazor Ali, 36, a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, in connection with the incident. According to Bangladesh's New Age outlet, Ali forcibly entered the house of the victim at around 11 pm and raped the woman before locals intervened and thrashed him, but Ali managed to flee. Muradnagar police station officer-in-charge Jahidur Rahman said the woman was the mother of two children and belonged to the Hindu community. 'On June 26, Fazor Ali (36), father – Shahid Mia, of Ramchadrapur Panchkitta village under Muradnagar police station of Comilla district, was detained and beaten by the people of the area on charges of raping the wife of an expatriate from the same village," Police said in a statement. Awami League supporters claimed a Hindu woman was gang-raped by BNP members. Students of Dhaka University took to the streets in the early hours of Sunday, demanding justice for the victim and asking the administration why she was assaulted. Police arrested Fazor Ali in Dhaka's Saydabad area at approximately 5 am on Sunday, and also arrested other individuals for allegedly circulating the video on social media. A case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act has been registered. There have been several instances of violence against Hindus in several areas of Bangladesh since August 5, 2024, when Sheikh Hasina was ousted as the Prime Minister of the neighbouring country. Earlier on May 31, a human chain and protest march was organised by various organisations in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka to protest the violence and torture being perpetrated against religious minorities and ethnic communities across Bangladesh, Sammilita Sanatan Parishad, a minority alliance, said in a statement. Addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on June 27, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the interim government has to protect Hindus and other minorities. (with agency inputs) First Published: June 29, 2025, 13:50 IST
India Today
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
21-year-old Hindu woman raped by local politician in Bangladesh, five arrested
Police have arrested five individuals, including the primary suspect, Fazor Ali, a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, in connection with the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Muradnagar upazila. Three others were detained for recording and sharing a video of the victim on social incident occurred on June 26, 2025, when Fazor Ali, 38, from Ramchandrapur Pachkitta village, allegedly broke into the victim's father's house around 10 victim, whose husband is working in Dubai, was staying at her father's home with her children for the local festival Hari Seva. According to the case statement, Ali forcibly entered the house after the victim refused to open the door and assaulted her. Locals apprehended and beat Ali but he managed to flee the arrested Fazor Ali in Dhaka's Saydabad area at approximately 5 am on Sunday.A case has been filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act based on the victim's written complaint, lodged on June 27. The Muradnagar police have launched an investigation in the the incident has sparked protests in the region with residents expressing agner over the alleged assault by a Muslim man on a Hindu woman. Since the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there has been a noticeable rise in targeted attacks against the Hindu community in Ends IN THIS STORY#Bangladesh
