Bangladesh Police Investigate Assault of Elderly Woman by Local Political Leader
A 56-year-old woman is receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Shariatpur after being abducted and brutally beaten by a local political leader and his associates over allegations of theft. The victim, who was subjected to a public assault, was rescued by police following a frantic call to the national emergency service, 999.
The incident, which took place in the Bhedarganj upazila, was allegedly led by Anwar Hossain Molla, the former president of the Chhaygaon Union branch of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). According to the victim's family, the trouble began after Molla reported a theft of cash and gold jewelry from his home. In a bizarre attempt to identify the culprit, the political leader reportedly forced the woman to consume "sanctified" bread provided by a local mystic. When she subsequently fell ill, she was abducted from her home, taken to the politician’s property, and subjected to a severe beating.
A 65-second video of the assault has circulated widely on social media, sparking public outcry. The footage depicts a group of men striking the elderly woman with sticks while onlookers stand by. The victim can be heard screaming and pleading for mercy as she is physically assaulted.
The victim's son filed a formal complaint with the Bhedarganj police station on Sunday, naming Anwar Hossain Molla and four others—Rajan Khan, Ainal Haque, Rana, and Delowar Sarder—as the primary suspects. The victim's family claims that the assailants utilized their political influence to carry out the attack and have since issued threats to prevent legal action. The victim’s daughter-in-law reported that the assault occurred despite the woman suffering from pre-existing health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, and noted that the attackers had also targeted family members who attempted to intervene.
Ilias Hossain, a physician at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, stated that while the woman remains physically weak, her condition is gradually improving and she is expected to recover within a few days.
Bhedarganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Bashar confirmed that authorities intervened after receiving the emergency call and have officially registered the case. Police are currently working to locate and arrest the suspects, who reportedly fled the area following the filing of the lawsuit. Efforts to reach the accused for comment were unsuccessful as their mobile phones have been switched off.
