A video went viral on social media (Facebook) showing a woman being held by the ear and beaten with a stick by a group of young men on Cox’s Bazar beach.
– The woman was surrounded by 20-30 people, mostly men, who were recording the incident on their mobile phones.
– Fact-checkers identified the video uploader as Fakhrul Islam, and the incident occurred on 11 September 2024
Other Incidents and Videos
– Other videos posted by Fakhrul Islam show similar incidents of harassment and intimidation of women and a member of the third gender on the beach.
– In one video, a woman is forced to remove her mask, and her face is recorded on camera.
– Another video shows a group of men questioning and harassing a woman on the beach.
Police Response
– The tourist police in charge, ASP Abul Kalam, was aware of the incident and stated that the police went to the scene after hearing about it.
– Kalam acknowledged that some incidents of harassment occurred on the beach but denied that the police were involved in the incidents.
Fakhrul Islam’s Social Media Posts
– Fakhrul Islam posted about the incident on his Facebook page, justifying his actions and thanking the police for their support.
– He claimed to have acted as a “common citizen” and appealed to the police to take action against the victims.
Concerns and Questions
– The incident raises concerns about safety and harassment of women and marginalized groups in public spaces.
– Questions remain about the police’s response and their involvement in the incident.
News Source: Dhaka Tribune
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