A local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and Union Parishad (UP) member has been accused of ordering the abduction, assault, and forced head-shaving of a local farmer in Monpura, Bhola. The incident, which allegedly took place inside a local party office, has triggered widespread outrage after a video capturing the victim’s humiliation circulated on social media.
The victim, 35-year-old Md Alauddin, a resident of Ward 5 of North Sakuchia Union, detailed his ordeal during a press conference at the Monpura Reporters’ Unit on Tuesday, 14 July. According to Alauddin, the dispute began over a land ownership issue. Local individuals identified as Farid and Kalam had previously demanded a extortion payment of 50,000 taka from him. Although senior upazila BNP leaders intervened to resolve the land dispute, the situation escalated on Saturday, 11 July, when his rivals fabricated moral allegations against him.
Alauddin alleged that Zakir column Hossain Dulal, a local UP member and BNP leader, dispatched a village watchman (Chowkidar) to forcibly apprehend him from his home. He was brought to the local BNP office in Banglabazar, where he was subjected to physical assault. Under Dulal’s instruction, the attackers forcibly shaved his head. In an attempt to maximise his public humiliation, the perpetrators paraded him through the local market.
Breaking down in tears during the press conference, Alauddin expressed the profound psychological distress the incident has caused his family, particularly his son, who is a Quran-e-Hafiz. He stated that he felt unable to face his community and had contemplated suicide due to the public humiliation.
Zakir Hossain Dulal has denied the allegations, claiming the accusations are a politically motivated attempt to tarnish his reputation.
However, local BNP leaders have condemned the incident. Dr Kamal Uddin, Vice-President of Monpura Upazila BNP, and Mofizur Rahman Milan Matabbor, the acting General Secretary, described the use of the party office for such vigilante justice as unacceptable and demanded disciplinary action. Legal experts have also criticised the act, with Monpura Senior Judicial Magistrate Court lawyer Advocate Rahat noting that the assault constitutes a severe violation of human rights.
Mazharul Islam, the Officer-in-Charge of Monpura Police Station, stated that law enforcement had been made aware of the incident through informal channels. He assured that a thorough investigation would be initiated as soon as a formal written complaint is filed by the victim.
