BNP Leader Fined and Beaten Over Student Harassment

In Laxmipur’s Raipur, a local BNP leader, Shukkur Miji, has been fined 100,000 taka and subjected to a public beating following allegations of sexually harassing a schoolgirl. In addition, the party has announced his expulsion.

The decision was reached during a local arbitration meeting held at the home of Nazmul Islam Mithu, president of the Upazila BNP, in Chormohana village on Monday night, 16 March. Present at the meeting were Mithu, the presidents and secretaries of Raipur Union BNP, and representatives from both sides involved in the dispute.

Mithu explained that the victim’s family is impoverished and that the girl’s mother is deceased. “At the family’s request, we sought to resolve the matter locally,” he said.

Incident Details

The harassment took place on Sunday, 15 March, at approximately 11:00 a.m. in Chaltatuli, Devipur village, Ward No. 6 of Raipur Union. Police sources reported that following the allegation, Shukkur Miji was taken into custody by the local BNP ward president and handed over to the police later that evening. As of 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Miji remained under police supervision.

According to reports, the victim, aged 15, is a resident of Devipur and a student of the local Jonokallyan Multipurpose High School. On Sunday morning, she left her home to dispose of household waste when Miji allegedly grabbed her from behind at her home’s gate and attempted to take her to a nearby rickshaw shed for sexual harassment. The girl screamed, attracting the attention of her aunt and grandmother, which caused Miji to flee.

A police complaint (FIR) was filed by the girl’s aunt against Miji and two others, including Miji’s son-in-law and Jalal Uddin Rana, joint convener of the Upazila Krishak Dal. Rana is accused of threatening the family not to seek legal action.

The victim’s aunt stated, “We feel unsafe due to threats from Shukkur Miji and his associates. Only three or four journalists are supporting us. Under pressure, we had no choice but to attend the local arbitration meeting at Mithu’s home. Miji was publicly fined, beaten, and forced to apologise. He has also been removed from his party position, though the fine has not yet been paid.”

In response, Jalal Uddin Rana claimed, “My father-in-law has been falsely accused by a friend of my wife. I suggested a local settlement. Allegations against me are untrue.”

Raipur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shaheen Mia confirmed that Shukkur Miji was brought in for questioning but is not formally detained. The complainant has reportedly decided not to file a formal police case.

Summary of Key Facts