Viral video of woman assaulted in Rajbari market sparks misinformation campaign as police confirm business dispute

A video depicting a woman being kicked by several individuals in the presence of police in Rajbari has triggered widespread misinformation on social media, with various groups falsely linking the incident to consumer rights raids, political violence, and government officials.

The 27-second footage shows a female police officer attempting to escort a woman, later identified as local business owner Zakia Sultana, through a market while other officers stand nearby. During the escort, several men are seen kicking the woman, despite the police presence. The video has been circulated across more than 70 Facebook pages and profiles, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and sparking public confusion.

Fact-checking confirms the incident took place on the afternoon of August 29 at the Kanderia Market in Rajbari. Geolocation of the footage, which features an “Uttara Bank PLC, Rajbari Branch” sign, confirms the setting. Official reports and police statements indicate that the assault stemmed from a business dispute rather than an official government operation.

Contrary to viral claims, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection issued a formal statement on August 30 clarifying that the incident had no connection to any of their operations or staff. Similarly, claims circulating on social media that the victim was an executive magistrate or a government official were found to be baseless; the woman is identified as a local entrepreneur who owns a garment business.

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Police investigations reveal that the altercation originated from a long-standing dispute between Zakia Sultana and a former employee, Shahana Parveen Brishti. Tensions escalated after Sultana allegedly pressured the market committee to close Brishti’s shop, leading to protests by market workers and eventual physical confrontation.

Rajbari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Uttam Kumar Ghosh confirmed that no formal written complaints have been filed by either party as of the time of reporting. Benazir Ahmed, convener of the Rajbari Market Traders Welfare Association, stated that mediation efforts had taken place between the conflicting groups to resolve the matter locally.

While the physical assault captured in the video is genuine, the various narratives—ranging from political victimhood to state-led corruption—are entirely fabricated. The incident remains a private commercial conflict that has been weaponized by various online actors to serve conflicting political agendas.