In a tragic incident in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar, a dispute reportedly triggered by a Facebook reaction escalated into violence, resulting in the death of a woman identified as Saeeda Begum. The incident has sparked widespread concern and competing allegations between local political activists and the victim’s family.
The event occurred around 8:00 pm on Saturday (16 May) in Tyapalong village, located in Ward 7 of Rajapalong Union. Saeeda Begum was the wife of local resident Sabbar Ahmed.
According to local accounts, tensions had been building in the area following political graffiti reading “Joy Bangla, Joy Sheikh Hasina” on the wall of a local madrasa. A complaint had previously been lodged by local political figures against several individuals linked to a banned political organisation. Later, a social media post regarding the issue was made by Zisan, a student wing activist, on Facebook. The controversy intensified when another individual, Yunus, reacted to the post with a “haha” emoji, which allegedly triggered confrontation on the ground.
Witnesses reported that shortly afterwards, a group of activists confronted and detained Yunus, allegedly assaulting him. When his friend SM Imran, a local NGO worker, intervened, he too was allegedly beaten. Upon hearing about the attack on her son, Saeeda Begum rushed to the scene, where she was reportedly assaulted during the chaos and subsequently collapsed unconscious. She was taken to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Reported sequence of events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Evening (before 8 pm) | Facebook post shared regarding wall graffiti |
| Shortly after | “Haha” reaction allegedly triggers tension |
| Evening | Yunus allegedly detained and assaulted |
| Minutes later | SM Imran intervenes and is allegedly beaten |
| Shortly after | Saeeda Begum arrives and collapses |
| Later | Declared dead at hospital |
The victim’s son, Imran, claimed that members of a local political group, including several named activists, were involved in the assault. He also alleged that multiple members of his family, including his sister—an SSC candidate—and his wife, were injured during the incident.
However, the accused individuals have strongly denied the allegations. In a late-night press briefing, they stated that they were not present at the scene and had no involvement in any attack. They further argued that Saeeda Begum died due to illness rather than physical assault, insisting there is no evidence supporting claims of violence.
A local political leader, Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury, also rejected allegations of an organised attack, stating that the incident did not occur as described and suggesting that the woman had died at home due to illness. He added that appropriate action would be taken if any party is proven guilty following investigation.
Meanwhile, police confirmed the detention of Yunus after he was reportedly held by locals inside a shop before being taken into custody. Officer-in-Charge Mujibur Rahman stated that no visible external injuries were found during the initial examination of Saeeda Begum’s body. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined, and a post-mortem examination has been ordered at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.
Authorities have launched an investigation to establish the sequence of events and determine whether the death was linked to the reported altercation.