Chinese tourist harassment at Paharpur sparks outrage, content creator arrested

A content creator has been arrested for allegedly harassing a Chinese tourist at the historic Paharpur Buddhist Monastery in Naogaon and later sharing the video on social media, triggering widespread criticism over the treatment of foreign visitors.

The accused, Abdul Mabut, 40, known on Facebook as “Hero Nana,” was arrested on Monday (June 22) from Majhipara area in Joypurhat following an investigation by the Tourist Police.

A case was subsequently filed against him at Badalgachhi Police Station on charges related to intimidation and insulting behavior intended to disturb public order, confirmed Badalgachhi Police Station Investigation Officer Nazrul Islam.

According to police and local sources, the incident took place on Friday when a Chinese tourist visited the UNESCO World Heritage site. Taking advantage of the visitor’s language barrier, the accused allegedly asked a series of personal and uncomfortable questions while recording the interaction. A roughly 30-second video of the incident later circulated on Facebook and quickly went viral.

The video sparked strong reactions from local residents, tourism stakeholders and social media users, many of whom condemned the incident as an attempt to gain online attention at the expense of a foreign visitor. Critics argued that such behavior damages Bangladesh’s tourism image and undermines the country's reputation among international travelers.

After learning about the incident, Paharpur Buddhist Monastery Custodian Mohammad Fazlul Karim contacted the Tourist Police, prompting an investigation. Law enforcement later identified and detained the accused.

Fazlul Karim said the incident was detrimental to the reputation and image of Paharpur, one of the country’s most significant archaeological and tourism sites, adding that immediate action was taken in coordination with the Tourist Police.

Paharpur Tourist Police Outpost Officer-in-Charge Mahbub Alam said Abdul Mabut was handed over to Badalgachhi Police Station after preliminary questioning. The case was filed by Tourist Police Sub-Inspector Mejboul Haque.

Authorities said further investigation is into this matter is underway.