[Dhaka Tribune] A disturbing series of videos that surfaced on social media has revealed harassment and assault against women in Cox’s Bazar.| Alternate spelling is Cox’s Bazaar. |
The boldness of the attackers, who even bragged about their actions on Facebook, has shocked the public and shown the slow response from law enforcement.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The incidents came to attention after at least seven different videos surfaced on social media.
In each video, a group of men, led by Farokul, harass and physically abuse women in various parts of Cox’s Bazar.
In one of the videos, Farokul, armed with a stick, forces a woman to do sit-ups on the beach while holding her ears, verbally abusing her throughout the ordeal.
In another video, a woman sitting on a beach chair late at night was approached by the group.
The men aggressively questioned her reasons for being on the beach at that hour, ignoring her pleas that she was merely a tourist and had done nothing wrong. Despite her explanations, she was forced to leave.
Another woman was seen pleading with coppers near Sugandha Beach, asking them to help her retrieve her mobile phone, which the group had stolen.
In a separate instance, a woman is seen being repeatedly beaten with a stick by Farokul as she begs him to stop.
The group also intercepted a rickshaw carrying two women, dragging them out of the vehicle.
When the women attempted to escape, Farokul and his associates chased them with sticks, further escalating the violence.
VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The perpetrators themselves posted these videos on Facebook, bragging about their actions.
Farokul and his group used social media to justify their assaults, labeling the women as hookers and claiming that those criticizing their actions were complicit in immoral activities.
Farokul further suggested in his posts that the local administration was supporting their actions, although no official confirmation of this has been made.
At one point, Farokul deactivated his Facebook account, but it was soon reactivated, and most of the incriminating videos were deleted.
Despite this, several posts remain where he attempted to provide justifications for his group’s behavior.
POLICE ACTION
Despite clear evidence circulating on social media, local law enforcement did not immediately take action against Farokul and his group.
Abul Kalam, assistant superintendent of the Cox’s Bazar Tourist Police, initially said that no formal complaint had been lodged regarding the incidents, though he confirmed that they were aware of reports involving "third-gender individuals" being harassed on the beach.
Only after significant public outcry did Cox’s Bazar District Police launch an operation to apprehend Farokul.
He was arrested on Friday, and a case was subsequently filed against him at the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model cop shoppe.
Related:
Cox’s Bazar: 2024-09-15 Terror in Rohingya camp as boys kidnapped to fight in Myanmar
Cox’s Bazar: 2023-03-22 Bangladesh extrajudicial killings fell dramatically in 2022, US report finds
Cox’s Bazar: 2022-12-03 Rohingya rebel group ARSA denies killing Bangladesh intelligence officer
Cox’s Bazar: 2024-09-15 Terror in Rohingya camp as boys kidnapped to fight in Myanmar
Cox’s Bazar: 2023-03-22 Bangladesh extrajudicial killings fell dramatically in 2022, US report finds
Cox’s Bazar: 2022-12-03 Rohingya rebel group ARSA denies killing Bangladesh intelligence officer
Related:
Cox’s Bazaar: 2024-09-15 Terror in Rohingya camp as boys kidnapped to fight in Myanmar
Cox’s Bazaar: 2023-03-04 3 Arsa members held for killing Rohingya man in Ukhiya camp
Cox’s Bazaar: 2023-02-03 In Bangladesh’s borderland with Myanmar, 2 Rohingya militant groups fight for dominance
Cox’s Bazaar: 2024-09-15 Terror in Rohingya camp as boys kidnapped to fight in Myanmar
Cox’s Bazaar: 2023-03-04 3 Arsa members held for killing Rohingya man in Ukhiya camp
Cox’s Bazaar: 2023-02-03 In Bangladesh’s borderland with Myanmar, 2 Rohingya militant groups fight for dominance