Farukul, arrested for harassing women in Cox’s Bazar, placed on one-day remand

Farukul Islam, who was recently arrested for harassing and beating women in Cox’s Bazar, has been placed on a one-day remand for interrogation.

The court of Cox’s Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate Hakim Akhter Javed Tanchangya passed the remand order on Tuesday (17 September), said Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station Inspector (investigation) Md Mosiur Rahman.

The police had appealed for a five-day remand after producing him in court on 15 September, said the inspector.

The court held a hearing on the matter today and placed him on a one-day remand, he added.

“The accused is currently in jail. He will be interrogated later,” said Inspector Mosiur.

Farukul, 22, is the prime accused in a case filed over harassment and assault of women at Cox’s Bazar sea beach and the Lal Dighi area of the beach town last week.

On Saturday (14 September), one of the victims filed a case with Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station against six people including Farukul, The Business Standard reported on the day. Farukul was detained the previous day and arrested in the case later.

Hailing from Hatia union of Chattogram’s Lohagara, Farokul lived with his family in Bhola Babu’s Petrol Pump area in Cox’s Bazar.

Several video clips showing a group of men, including Farukul, harassing three women on 11 September went viral sparking outrage on social media. In one of the videos, Farukul was heard saying the women were carrying out “shameful activities” at the beach.

He even uploaded a video on his Facebook account, in which he was seen chasing down and beating up some women with a stick in the Laldighi area.

In one of the videos, a woman sitting on a beach bench was seen surrounded by the group at night. They were seen asking the woman what she was doing at the beach at a late hour.

Although the woman said she was a tourist, the answer did not satisfy them. At one point, they chased the woman away from the beach, alleging that she had “damaged the atmosphere”.

In one video, a woman was seen surrounded by curious onlookers, and some youths were standing beside her with sticks in their hands. At one point, the woman was forced to do sit-ups holding ears, and indecent remarks were hurled at her.

Another clip shows a woman at a police box with Farukul. The woman was complaining to the police that he had snatched away her mobile phone. She was crying and requesting them to return it, saying she would delete everything on her phone if needed.

A number of social media users said Farukul was a local coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, a claim which the leaders and activists of the movement in Cox’s Bazar denied.