'Next Afghanistan?': Bangladesh women beaten, made to do sit-ups for not wearing hijab, sparks outrage (WATCH)
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Sep 14, 2024, 12:27 PM ISTFarokul Islam, identified as a cadre of student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, has been reportedly attacking women with a stick if found alone or not dressed in a burqa or hijab, stirring outrage across social media platforms.
Alarming reports have emerged from Bangladesh’s famous Cox’s Bazar beach, where members of the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatrashibir, have been enforcing their own version of "Sharia policing" by targeting women who do not adhere to conservative Islamic dress codes.
Farokul Islam, identified as a cadre of Shibir, has been reportedly attacking women with a stick if found alone or not dressed in a burqa or hijab, stirring outrage across the country. In videos that have gone viral on social media platform X, several women can be seen being targeted with one woman beaten and another made to do sit-ups.
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Islam, who is affiliated with Chunati Hakimiya Kamil Hons-Masters Madrasah in Chittagong, allegedly recorded the attacks and posted the footage on Facebook. The videos have sparked fears of a growing wave of extremism in Bangladesh, with many comparing the situation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Local Shibir (student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami ) cadre Farukul Islam and his associates are conducting Sharia policing at Cox's Bazar beach. If he finds a woman alone, if he doesn't like someone's dress, he attacks them with a stick. The Shibir cadre… pic.twitter.com/ZvbuVOew7n
— Freedom/Rights/Rule of Law (@FreedomRightsRL)Social media erupted with concern after the videos surfaced. "Disturbing reports of radical groups targeting girls at Cox's Bazar for not wearing burqas or hijabs. Are we witnessing the rise of extremism like in Afghanistan? This must be condemned and stopped immediately!" wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter).
Another remarked, "Bangladesh was destined to end up like Afghanistan. It's just the secular government that halted the process for so long."
The growing fears of radicalism have amplified concerns about women's safety and religious freedom in the country. The attack comes amid a volatile political climate in Bangladesh, where recent political changes, including the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have led to unrest and uncertainty. Hasina’s secular administration had managed to keep radical elements in check, but her departure has sparked a rise in such incidents, including attacks on minority communities.
In response to this increasing wave of extremism, thousands of Hindus marched in Dhaka and Chattogram on Friday, protesting the recent attacks on their community. They carried placards listing eight demands, including the swift punishment of attackers through a fast-track tribunal. The protests, organized under the Sanatani Odhikar Andolan, also called for the creation of a minority affairs ministry and reserved seats for minorities in parliament.
Protestors in Dhaka and Chattogram voiced their concerns about the rise in religious violence and called on the government to act swiftly. In Chattogram, demonstrators gathered in the Jamal Khan area, refusing to return home until their demands, including compensation for victims of religious violence, were met. Meanwhile, protestors in Dhaka brought traffic to a halt at Shahbag intersection, rallying against the government's failure to protect minorities and women.
The situation has drawn international attention, with Paris-based human rights organization Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) condemning the attacks. JMBF issued a statement calling the destruction of homes, businesses, and places of worship a severe violation of human rights.
As Bangladesh grapples with this surge of religious extremism, many fear the nation could be headed down a path reminiscent of Afghanistan under the Taliban, where strict enforcement of conservative Islamic codes oppresses women and minorities.
Here's a look at some of the reactions on X in the wake of the viral videos:
Islamists won't spare their women either - they become their victims of regressive ideologies
Perhaps when Yunus & his jamati collaborators have fully shown their true colours, Bangladeshis will appreciate Hasina more https://t.co/oYfKZfvqom
All under the nose of Nobel laureate. People don't realise this Nobel family is a biggest fraud to fool the world!https://t.co/3O0gHdqQ7l
— आजानुबाहू (@BhrgaShri)This is the condition of Bangladesh. This is as expected. https://t.co/NlFq25DMgh
— Gagan Dev Chatterjee (@nomadic68)Islamic radicals were relatively subdued when Bangladesh was governed by a regime that prevented them from transforming the country into a mirror image of Pakistan or Afghanistan. However, following the American-led regime change in Bangladesh, these extremists were able to rise… pic.twitter.com/CBvg7YFjLI
— Sandeep Kukreti (@SundipK61956453)Disturbing reports of radical groups targeting girls at Cox's Bazar for not wearing burqas or hijabs. Are we witnessing the rise of extremism like in Afghanistan? This must be condemned and stopped immediately!
— Deepak Arora (@iAroraDeepak)Shame on Bangladesh!
The Radical Islamist are showing their colours . One more Porkistan in the making .
Should be called as KANGLA DESH . pic.twitter.com/bl8GbTm5lL
Bangladesh in its previous Avatar was East Pakistan.
In this new Avatar it is going acsteo further, turning into Afghanistan.
Concerns are rising in Bangladesh as videos surface of radical groups reportedly targeting women at Cox's Bazar for not adhering to conservative dress codes, sparking fears of increasing extremism and comparisons to Afghanistan's Taliban rule.
— Akansha Datta 💐 (@akanshadattaaa)Sharia law soon coming their way.
Good progress by Bangladesh
Jamaat-e-Islami cadres are going to make Bangladesh another Taliban
— Alex (@Raghu_Xt)I already shouting about Bangladesh that it be next pit stop for ISIS.
— Desi Villager (@AloneVillager)Enforcing radical views on women's clothing is alarming and threatens personal freedom—Bangladesh must resist extremist paths!
— Nitin_Agrawal (@Nitinmittal410)Bangladesh is harassing minorities by forcibly imposing Sharia on citizens, looting their property, robbing the dignity of girls and women, and pressuring them to convert to Islam.
— 🌸🍃Indresh Mishra🇮🇳🍃🌸इन्द्रेश कुमार मिश्रा ✍️ (@Indresh19925)
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