A disturbing video has surfaced showing a local businessman violently assaulting a woman in a residential hotel room in Patuakhali, as several others, including members of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, look on. The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon and has sparked outrage over the inaction of police against the perpetrator.
In the video, a man in a black t-shirt, identified as 40-year-old Mira Masud, is seen shoving and beating a woman while another woman desperately clutches his legs, begging him to stop. Masud later admitted to the assault, claiming he had followed a crowd to the hotel and began beating the woman upon arrival.
Sajibul Islam, a member of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and a key figure during the July protests, told Prothom Alo that their group had received reports from concerned locals about alleged sex work in the hotel. According to him, they found several women in different rooms and called the police. Before the authorities could arrive, the assault took place.
Detective Branch (DB) and Thana police later arrived and confirmed that they rescued the hotel manager and three women. However, both DB and Thana police remained silent about any legal action against Mira Masud for the assault, even though he publicly confessed to the violence.
Instead, police stated that legal proceedings were underway regarding the alleged sex work. The absence of accountability for the physical assault has raised serious concerns about selective law enforcement and the continued criminalization and public shaming of women under the guise of morality policing.
Source: Prothom Alo
Date of Reporting: 23 July 2025
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