Another minority horror in Bangladesh: Hindu widow gang-raped, tied to tree, hair cut off and act recorded

File image of protest against violence on Hindus in Bangladesh.

A Hindu widow in Bangladesh was allegedly gang raped, tortured, and publicly humiliated by two men who filmed and shared the attack online. The incident is part of a disturbing rise in violence against Hindus, drawing concern from India over minority safety.

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In yet another disturbing case of violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh, a 40-year-old widow was allegedly gang raped in Kaliganj, a sub-district of Jhenaidah. According to local media reports and the survivor’s police complaint, the two accused men tied her to a tree, forcibly cut off her hair, sexually assaulted her, and recorded the attack on video. The footage was later circulated on social media, further compounding the abuse and humiliation faced by the survivor.

In her statement to police, the woman said she had bought land and a two-storeyed house for 2 million taka around two and a half years ago from a man named Shahin and his brother in Ward No. 7 of Kaliganj municipality. Soon after the purchase, Shahin allegedly began harassing her and making indecent proposals, which escalated after she repeatedly refused.

On Saturday evening, when two relatives from her village were visiting, Shahin and his associate Hasan allegedly forced their way into the house and raped her. The men then demanded 50,000 taka from the woman. When she refused, they reportedly assaulted her relatives and drove them out of the house.

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According to the complaint, when the woman raised an alarm, the attackers tied her to a tree, cut off her hair, recorded the act, and circulated the footage online. She was allegedly tortured until she lost consciousness. Local residents later rescued her and rushed her to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital.

Dr Md Mostafizur Rahman, superintendent of the hospital, said the woman did not initially disclose the assault. “Later, through medical examination, we learnt that she had been subjected to abuse,” he said.

After regaining consciousness, the survivor filed a formal complaint at Kaliganj Police Station, naming Shahin and Hasan. Jhenaidah Additional Superintendent of Police Billal Hossain said, “We have called the survivor to the police station and recorded her complaint. After investigation, the police will take the highest possible legal action.”

The crime comes amid a disturbing pattern of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The woman was raped on the same day that Khokon Chandra Das, a Hindu man, died after being attacked and set ablaze by a mob in the Shariatpur district. Das had reportedly jumped into a pond to escape his attackers but later succumbed to his injuries.

In another incident, Amrit Mondal, a Hindu youth, was allegedly lynched by a mob in Kalimohar Union on December 24. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus condemned the killing but controversially claimed Mondal was an extortionist and insisted there was no communal angle.

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Earlier, on December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, aged 25, was lynched by a mob after being falsely accused of blasphemy. His body was reportedly hung from a tree and set on fire.

India has raised serious concern over what it described as “unremitting hostility” against minorities under the Yunus-led administration and said it is closely monitoring developments in Bangladesh. Dhaka, for its part, has repeated its claim that it remains committed to protecting minorities.

However, as assaults, lynchings and public humiliation of Hindus continue with alarming regularity, those assurances are increasingly ringing hollow.