Journalist Harassment: Three suspects held

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained three suspects, including the prime accused, in connection with the harassment of a female journalist and her brother in Dhaka’s Banasree area on Wednesday night.

The arrestees are prime accused Shoyeb Rahman, 25, son of Md Mizanur Rahman Khan of Bagerhat’s Moreelganj, Md Raisul Islam, 21, son of Sakhawat Hossain of Bairshal Sadar, and Md Kawsar Hossain, 21, son of Md Nurul Islam of the same district, reports UNB.

Sanad Barua, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (media) of the Rab-3, said they held the trio from different areas of Dhaka after a video containing the harassment went viral on social media.

The elite force started an investigation while several teams launched operations in the capital to capture the accused after they noticed the matter on social media, he said.

The arrestees were handed over to Rampura police station to take legal action, the Rab officer added.

On Wednesday night, Rafia Tamanana, an editorial assistant at New Age, and her brother were assaulted after confronting a group of youths who had allegedly been following her near their home in the Banasree area.

The victim described the incident in a post on her Facebook account, triggering widespread criticism over the safety of women outside the house.

"Three to four youths emerged from the shop, followed me, and stood next to me. When my brother intervened, they assaulted him and began beating him," she said.

Rafia also said she was attacked and beaten by the group when she tried to protect her brother.

"People in the area just watched the scene like spectators, and no one came forward to our aid. The attackers even called for reinforcements to form a mob," she added.

Rafia explained that both she and her brother fled the scene to escape further harm. "I'm not safe in my own neighbourhood?" she lamented.

Later, she filed a case with the Rampura police station in this connection.