A brutal sexual assault case in Bangladesh has reignited concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country. Police say a Hindu widow was allegedly gang-raped, tied to a tree, had her hair cut off, and was filmed in a village in central Bangladesh, before the video was circulated on social media.
The survivor, a 40-year-old woman, told investigators that the assault took place on Saturday evening in Kaliganj, a sub-district of Jhenaidah district, when two relatives were visiting her home.
What police say happened
According to the complaint filed by the woman, two men forced their way into her house and sexually assaulted her. She told police that she had purchased the house and a small plot of land around two-and-a-half years ago from one of the accused and his brother, and that she had allegedly faced repeated harassment since the sale.
Police said the attackers also demanded 50,000 taka from her. When she refused to pay, the men allegedly assaulted her relatives and forced them out of the house.
As the woman screamed for help, she told investigators that the attackers tied her to a tree, cut off her hair, recorded the abuse on video, and later circulated the footage online. She said she lost consciousness after being tortured.
Rescue and medical examination
Local residents eventually rescued the woman and rushed her to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital. Hospital superintendent Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman told media that the survivor did not initially disclose the full details of the assault, but a subsequent medical examination indicated that she had been sexually abused.
The woman later filed a formal complaint at Kaliganj Police Station, naming both alleged attackers. Jhenaidah Additional Superintendent of Police Billal Hossain said her statement had been recorded and assured that police would take the highest possible legal action after completing the investigation.
A wider pattern of violence against minorities
The incident has drawn attention to a series of violent attacks against members of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority in recent weeks.
On January 1, a Hindu businessman was attacked, hacked, and set on fire in Shariatpur district while returning home from his shop, according to police and local media reports. He survived after jumping into a roadside pond and was later shifted to Dhaka for advanced treatment.
In other recent cases, at least two Hindu men were lynched in separate incidents in Mymensingh and Rajbari districts over allegations ranging from blasphemy to extortion. In one case in December, a 25-year-old man was beaten to death by a mob and his body set on fire in Mymensingh. Days later, another Hindu man was lynched in Rajbari town’s Pangsha upazila.
India and international reaction
India has raised concerns over what it described as unremitting hostility against minorities under Bangladesh’s current government and said it is closely monitoring developments in the neighboring country.
Protests by Hindu groups have also taken place abroad, including demonstrations outside Bangladesh’s High Commission in London, calling attention to alleged atrocities against Hindu minorities.
According to Bangladesh’s 2022 census, Hindus make up about 7.95 percent of the population, or roughly 13.13 million people.
Why this case matters
Human rights observers say the Jhenaidah assault reflects deeper issues around minority safety, impunity, and social intimidation. The alleged filming and circulation of the assault adds another layer of trauma and raises serious questions about digital abuse and accountability.
As police investigations continue, the case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over minority rights, rule of law, and protection of vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
