Woman entrepreneur assaulted in front of police: 3 arrested in Rajbari

A case has been filed over the alleged assault of woman entrepreneur Zakia Sultana following a dispute with clothing traders at Rajbari’s Baro Bazar. Police have arrested three young men in connection with the incident, which went viral on social media.

Nine people have been named as accused in the case, while another 50 to 60 unidentified individuals have also been charged.

Rajbari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Uttam Kumar Ghosh confirmed the filing of the case and the arrests on Tuesday (1 September).

The arrested individuals are Abdullah Al Siam Khan, 19, Md Rubel Hossain, 19, and Md Helal Uddin, 38.

Police said Zakia Sultana filed the case at Sadar Police Station on Monday night. Officers subsequently conducted a raid and arrested the three based on the allegations. They were produced before a court on Tuesday. Police said efforts are continuing to identify and arrest the remaining accused.

According to the case statement, Zakia runs a business called “Astha Poshak Shilpa Garments” on the third floor of Kaderia Super Market at Rajbari Baro Bazar.

A dispute reportedly arose over salary and inventory accounts after one of her employees left the job. The statement alleges that on 23 August, the former employee went to the business premises with 15 to 20 people, demanded his salary and allegedly threatened Zakia.
Against this backdrop, a tense situation developed between Zakia and clothing traders at Baro Bazar at around 11am on Saturday, 29 August.

She went to the market with several women to demand justice over an alleged attack on her business. At one point, she was allegedly assaulted in the presence of police officers, according to the case statement.

OC Uttam Kumar Ghosh said three people had been arrested following the entrepreneur’s complaint and had been sent to court. Police were continuing operations to arrest the other accused.

Earlier, police had said that no case had been filed over the assault. However, after Zakia Sultana subsequently lodged a complaint at the police station, legal action against the alleged perpetrators was initiated.