A Mro woman whose photos with the newly elected chairman of Ali Kadam upazila went viral on social media says, contrary to public opinion, the man did not forcefully embrace her.
Rum Pao Mro and her family told the press at a conference yesterday that they were enraged by the images being strewn across social media, and the misinterpretation.
Her photos with Chairman Abul Kalam from a public meeting in the Mro neighbourhood of Mirinchor para on Saturday went viral, with many, including indigenous community leaders, saying this was sexual harassment and an insult to the community. In the photos, Kalam is seen embracing Rum Pao, who was described as looking uncomfortable, and at least in one image, trying to remove herself from his arms.
Kalam was being accorded a reception there to celebrate his victory in the upazila elections. Local sources said he embraced Rum Pao after she greeted him with putting a flower garland around his neck.
Those who criticized the chairman on social media called it sexual harassment.
Chakma Queen Yan Yan wrote on Facebook that it was upsetting to see the silence of the local community.
“No one dared to stop the public sexual harassment of an indigenous woman,” she wrote.
“The lascivious eyeing of indigenous women, touching them anywhere: these things have been happening covertly everywhere. Now this has become public, official, and normalized,” she added.
Uzzal Chakma wrote on Facebook that the Mro people were known as good-natured and simple people.
“Perhaps they did not know that Abul Kalam is not a good person like them,” he wrote.
“Chairman Abul Kalam did nothing against my will,” Rum Pao told journalists at Kalam’s home in Ali Kadam on Monday afternoon.
Her brother, Men Rung Mro, commander of Mro National Party, said: “She did a lot of hard work during his campaign, and he expressed his gratitude. The chairman did nothing wrong.”
The family expressed anger that the photos had been spread around with a wrong message. Kalam had embraced many other men and women from the neighbourhood at that reception, he said.
“Us Mro, Chakma, Marma, Bangali people live peacefully here in harmony. Outsiders are trying to spread discord,” he said.
Abul Kalam told journalists it was an emotional moment among his supporters at Mirinchor Para after the victory, and he had embraced many people there.
“There was nothing wrong there,” he said.
A group of people from the Mro community, however, held a protest in front of Ali Kadam Press Club on Monday afternoon. They demanded punishment of Kalam for sexual harassment and submitted a memorandum to the upazila nirbahi officer.
Kalam has been accused of sexual harassment before.
In 2010, his fellow BNP leader, Shirin Akhter, the current Ali Kadam upazila woman vice chairman, filed a case against him for sexual harassment.
Kalam was expelled by BNP on March 3 for taking part in the upazila elections in violation of the party’s decision.
