Rights organizations have expressed strong outrage over the rape, public humiliation, and torture of a 44-year-old widowed Hindu woman in Jhenaidah, warning that the incident reflects a dangerous normalization of mob justice, misogyny, and impunity.
The woman was allegedly raped, tied to a tree, had her hair forcibly cut, and was publicly shamed after a group of local men circulated a video of the abuse on social media. The incident occurred on the evening of December 31, but drew nationwide attention after the footage spread online, triggering widespread condemnation from women’s rights activists, human rights groups, and legal experts.
The victim filed a rape case at Kaliganj Police Station on Monday, naming four accused. Police have arrested one of them—Hasan, 45, a resident of Kaliganj Municipality—and sent him to jail, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects. The woman, who lives with her 10-year-old son, was rescued in an injured condition and admitted to hospital before returning home after treatment.
Rights groups condemn public humiliation
Women’s rights and human rights organizations say the abuse represents a grave violation of both the law and basic human dignity.
Women’s rights activist Jinat Ara Haque said the public treatment of the victim had no legal or moral basis.
“You cannot humiliate someone simply because you want to,” she said. “Who will compensate for the humiliation inflicted on her? She has filed a rape case. Whether the rape occurred or not will be decided by the court. Do local residents have the right to give media statements or organize demonstrations over this?”
Khushi Kabir, coordinator of the rights organization Nijera Kori, questioned who gets to decide what constitutes so-called “immoral” behaviour.
“Our society includes many types of people,” she said. “Those who body-shame women or harass women for not wearing a scarf or for wearing a bindi are also engaging in immoral acts. So I do not understand this idea of ‘immoral activity.’”
She added that the Jhenaidah incident was a clear violation of the law. “If you object to someone’s behaviour, you must seek legal recourse. After cutting her hair, beating her, recording the video, and spreading it on social media, her reputation was destroyed. Who will take responsibility for that?”
Manzil Morshed, president of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh and a Supreme Court lawyer, warned that allowing such acts to go unpunished could have serious consequences.
“If allegations exist, action can be taken under criminal law,” he said. “But people are now being caught, beaten, and publicly shamed at will. If those who take the law into their own hands are not punished, this practice will spread like a social disease.”
Conflicting narratives and public scrutiny
Despite the gravity of the allegations, sections of the local community have attempted to justify the abuse by putting forward a counter-narrative. Some residents claimed the woman had long been involved in what they described as “immoral activities” and alleged that locals acted after catching her “red-handed.”
The incident has raised urgent legal and ethical questions about whether private citizens have any authority to punish someone based on allegations, and whether recording and circulating such abuse is permissible under the law.
Legal experts pointed out that even if allegations against the woman were true, mob justice is never lawful. They noted that under Penal Code Section 497, cases involving relationships with a married woman can only be filed by the husband against the man involved. Taking punitive action through violence or public shaming, they said, is supported by neither the law nor religious principles.
How the incident unfolded
Although the assault occurred on December 31, the video began circulating on social media the following day. After some Indian media outlets reported it as an incident of abuse against a Hindu woman, it spread rapidly online.
As the footage circulated, public discussion increasingly shifted away from the alleged rape and violence and instead focused on the woman’s character and personal life. Despite the absence of a medical report at the time, some people publicly claimed the rape allegation was false.
On the morning of Tuesday, a human chain was organized at the city bus stand area demanding an end to the woman’s alleged “immoral activities.” Police intervened, seized banners, and dispersed the gathering, saying the demonstration was not permitted as it could disrupt the election environment.
The victim’s account
Speaking to reporters, the woman said she had bought a house and land two years ago from the brother of a local man named Shahinur Rahman Shahin and had been living there with her child.
She said that on the evening of December 31, two male relatives visited her home. At that time, accused Shahin and Hasan entered the house under the pretext of seeing the visitors. The two relatives were locked in one room, while she was taken to another room and raped, she alleged.
She said she and the two relatives were later taken outside, tied to a tree on accusations of “misdeeds,” and filmed. During this time, Shahin and Hasan allegedly cut her hair, beat her, and recorded the abuse on mobile phones before sharing the footage on social media.
“Even after returning home from the hospital, I am still very ill. I cannot speak properly,” she said. “I have filed a case. Police have arrested Hasan, but Shahin has not yet been arrested.”
Medical findings and police response
According to doctors and admission records at Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, the woman was first admitted on January 1 but left the hospital the same day without informing anyone. She was admitted again to the gynecology department at around 12:30pm on Tuesday, accompanied by police from Kaliganj Police Station.
After providing rape samples and undergoing a physical examination, she left the hospital with the police.
Dr Md Mostafizur Rahman, superintendent of Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, said the woman had been admitted after being raped and tortured. He said the medical report has not yet been completed and will be sent to police once finalised.
Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jellal Hossain said the case was formally recorded on Monday. “Police have already arrested one accused, and drives are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects, including the main accused.”
