Published : 11 May 2025, 09:33 PM
A case has been filed in Munshiganj following the public beating of two young women with a belt aboard a passenger launch.
Sub-Inspector Milon of the Muktarpur River Police Outpost lodged the case at Munshiganj Sadar Police Station on Saturday night.
According to Sadar Police Station chief Saiful Alam, the prime accused is 25-year-old Nehal Ahmed Jihad. Along with Jihad, 20 to 25 unidentified individuals have been named as co-accused in the case.
The assault of the female passengers occurred around 7:30pm on Friday on a three-storey launch MV Captain anchored at Munshiganj Launch Terminal.
Several videos of the incident have gone viral on social media.
Later, on Saturday afternoon, police arrested Jihad.
Saiful said that due to the incident occurring on a waterway, the investigation has been assigned to Sub-Inspector Imran Ahmed of the Muktarpur River Police Outpost.
In one of the videos, Jihad is seen recklessly assaulting a girl dressed in white and estimated to be 15-17 years old on the deck using a waist belt.
Another woman donning a check dress was there at that time.
When they were being beaten, as many as 60 men of different ages were filming the scene on their mobile phones and cheering the alleged offender on.
The case has been filed under Section 10 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, which includes charges of sexual harassment, unlawful assembly, trespass, assault, damage to property, and issuance of threats.
Imran said that Jihad was formally arrested following the filing of the case.
On Sunday around 1:30pm, he was presented before Senior Judicial Magistrate Shahidul Islam in Munshiganj, where police sought a seven-day remand.
The magistrate scheduled the remand hearing for Monday and ordered the accused to be sent to jail in the meantime.
Police have initiated an investigation and are working to identify the other suspects using the video footage.
Imran said, “We are calling on victims, eyewitnesses, and anyone with footage to come forward and assist in the identification and prosecution of the perpetrators.”
Muktarpur River Police Outpost chief Ataur Rahman added, “This incident has raised questions on the entire area’s reputation due to the actions of a few. It is crucial that the matter is investigated thoroughly and the truth presented before the court. Despite various pressures, the police remain committed to conducting a proper investigation.”