In Raipur, Laxmipur, a senior BNP figure, Shukkur Miji, has been publicly fined 100,000 taka and subjected to a disciplinary beating following allegations of sexually harassing a 15-year-old schoolgirl. The party has also announced his removal from all official positions.
The decision emerged from a local arbitration meeting, or shalish, convened at the home of Nazmul Islam Mithu, president of the Upazila BNP, in Chormohana village on Monday night, 16 March. Attendees included Mithu, the presidents and secretaries of the Raipur Union BNP, and representatives from both the victim’s and accused’s sides.
Mithu stated that the victim’s family is financially disadvantaged and that the girl’s mother is deceased. “Considering the family’s situation, we agreed to settle the matter locally,” he said.
Sequence of Events
The incident occurred on Sunday, 15 March, around 11:00 a.m., in Chaltatuli, Devipur village, Ward No. 6 of Raipur Union. According to police reports, the victim, a student of Jonokallyan Multipurpose High School, went outside her home to dispose of waste when Miji allegedly seized her from behind near the house gate. He attempted to take her to a nearby rickshaw shed for sexual harassment. The girl’s screams alerted her aunt and grandmother, forcing Miji to flee the scene.
Following the incident, an FIR was filed against Miji and two others: his son-in-law and Jalal Uddin Rana, joint convener of the Upazila Krishak Dal. Rana is accused of threatening the family to dissuade them from pursuing legal action.
The victim’s aunt said, “We feel unsafe due to repeated threats. Only a few journalists have stood by us. Under pressure, we attended the arbitration meeting at Mithu’s home, where Miji was fined, beaten, and forced to apologise. He was also expelled from his BNP position. However, the fine has not yet been delivered.”
In his defence, Jalal Uddin Rana claimed the allegations were false and that he merely suggested a local settlement to resolve the issue without police involvement.
Raipur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shaheen Mia confirmed that Miji was brought in for questioning but is not formally detained. The complainant reportedly does not intend to lodge a formal case at this stage.
Incident Overview
| Date & Time | Location | Victim Age | Accused | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 March, 11:00 a.m. | Chaltatuli, Devipur, Ward 6, Raipur Union | 15 | Shukkur Miji, son-in-law, Jalal Uddin Rana | Alleged harassment; FIR lodged |
| 15 March, evening | Raipur Union | – | Shukkur Miji | Brought to police for questioning |
| 16 March, 12:00 a.m. | Chormohana, Mithu’s residence | – | Shukkur Miji | Fined 100,000 taka, beaten, expelled from BNP |
The case has drawn local attention, highlighting the complex interplay between political influence, social pressure, and the legal rights of vulnerable families in rural Bangladesh.