Dhaka, Bangladesh – A female journalist in Bangladesh has faced a wave of online harassment and defamation after exposing a brutal physical and sexual assault she endured in the capital. A female Bangladeshi journalist Rafia Tamanna, reported being harassed and attacked by a group of men in the capital Dhaka on April 2. However, following her public disclosure of the assault, she has now become the target of a coordinated online smear campaign.

The assault took place between local time 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on April 2 outside a juice shop in Banasree, Dhaka. Tamanna, along with her younger brother Rishad, was at the shop when a group of local men began staring at her inappropriately. When Tamanna objected to the unwanted attention, one of the men became aggressive and began shouting at her.

In an attempt to leave, Tamanna and her brother were blocked by two of the men who taunted her and continued to stare. When Rishad protested, the men attacked him, pinning him to the ground and beating him. Tamanna, attempting to protect her brother, was physically assaulted, with the attackers reportedly touching her inappropriately.

Mashfiq Mizan, a journalist with The Daily Star, who was present during the incident, attempted to capture the attack on his phone but was also attacked by the assailants. During the altercation, the attackers threatened to rape Tamanna.

One of the prime suspects, Sohaib Rahman Jisan, reportedly boasted about his media connections, saying, “I work for Ananda TV. Ask for justice from whoever you want.” His arrogant demeanor and the lack of accountability have shocked both the public and the media.

Following widespread public condemnation and a viral social media post detailing the attack, Bangladesh’s elite security force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested three suspects from different parts of Dhaka, including the prime accused. Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Media) Sanad Barua of RAB-3 confirmed the arrests to local media stating that intelligence reports and technology-assisted tracking led to the successful operation.
The suspects have been handed over to Rampura Police Station, where legal action is underway under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000.

Despite the arrests, Tamanna’s ordeal didn’t end there. She revealed in a new Facebook post that her attackers’ friends and family members have launched a series of online attacks against her. “The arrested individuals’ friends and family are posting videos with my pictures, defaming me, and sharing them in local groups,” she wrote.

Tamanna also reported receiving threats from people who claimed to be associated with the attackers. One individual, who allegedly helped the assailants during the attack, threatened her, saying, “I will solve this, just tell me your house number.”

In her post, Tamanna expressed her belief that these efforts were aimed at discrediting her and justifying future harassment: “It seems like they are using local criminal networks to tarnish my reputation in my own neighborhood and to legitimize future harassment and assaults against me.”

Tamanna also exposed the broader pressure campaign, claiming that some individuals were attempting to influence local media channels. “I’ve heard from multiple TV channels that certain people are trying to pressure the media into downplaying this incident,” she stated.

The attack and subsequent online defamation have sparked outrage both online and in the streets. Many are now calling for justice for Tamanna, not just in terms of the physical assault she endured, but for the online attacks designed to silence her. Critics argue that the harassment of women, both physically and digitally, is part of a larger problem in Bangladesh, where perpetrators often face little to no consequences for such crimes.

Tamanna’s bravery in speaking out has also led to a wider conversation about the safety of women in Bangladesh. Many have expressed concern that her experience represents a larger societal issue—one in which female victims are not only physically attacked but also publicly humiliated and threatened online, all while perpetrators act with impunity.

“People just stood by and watched while I was being attacked. If a journalist can be assaulted like this, what does it say about the safety of ordinary women in this country?” Tamanna reflected on the lack of intervention during the assault. Her statement on Facebook, coupled with her ongoing efforts to seek justice, continues to resonate widely.

As the police investigation progresses, women’s rights activists have called for stricter measures to combat gender-based violence and online harassment. Legal experts are urging the authorities to take immediate action against those responsible for the online attacks on Tamanna’s character, as well as those involved in the physical assault.

This incident has once again brought to light the deeply ingrained issues of violence and harassment that women in Bangladesh face. As the authorities move forward with their investigation, the public’s focus remains on ensuring that both the physical and digital assault on Tamanna are thoroughly addressed, and that her attackers face the full consequences of their actions.