NN Online:
Police have arrested Delwar Hossain Delu, a local BNP leader in Feni, in connection with the public humiliation of two women who were allegedly forced to rub their noses on the ground as punishment for their sons’ suspected involvement in a pigeon theft.
Delu, president of the BNP’s Panchgachia union unit under Feni Sadar upazila and a former union parishad chairman, was taken into custody early Thursday, according to Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Feni Model Police Station.
The arrest comes after one of the victims, Sajeda Begum, filed a case on Wednesday at the Feni Model Police Station. The case names 13 individuals, including Delu, and lists 10 to 12 others as unidentified accused.
According to the complaint, the incident took place on the night of May 1 in Madhyam Mathiara village during a local arbitration over the alleged theft of pigeons belonging to a man named Jahangir. During the arbitration, Sajeda Begum and Johora Begum were reportedly forced to perform a traditional act of public penance—touching their noses to the ground—in front of others.
Delu, who allegedly presided over the meeting, is further accused of physically assaulting Sajeda with a stick in a sensitive area and issuing threats to both women, compelling them to submit to the punishment.
A local court has since acknowledged the gravity of the incident. Senior Judicial Magistrate Aparajita Das has ordered Additional Superintendent of Police Md Saidur Rahman to conduct a full investigation and submit a report within 30 days.
OC Shamsuzzaman confirmed that legal proceedings are underway.
