CCTV captures suspect in attack on Mountaineer Shayla Bithi in Dhanmondi

Police say the young man was seen running down the footbridge

A suspect has been identified in CCTV footage linked to the sudden attack on Mountaineer Shayla Bithi in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon near the footbridge in front of the Mother Care Hospital.

The footage shows a young man running down the footbridge shortly after the attack, said a policeman.

After the incident, Bithi filed a general diary, or GD, at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station chief Mozammel Haque said, “The CCTV footage shows a suspect. Although not confirmed, the victim believes he could be the attacker. However, she has not filed a formal complaint."

He added, "The victim has filed a general diary mentioning that she sustained minor injuries during the incident."

OC Mozammel said the victim's husband is currently abroad and has informed that a decision regarding filing a case will be made upon his return.

"She can file a case later if she wishes, but we will continue our necessary actions based on the general diary."

In her diary, Bithi said: “At 2:10pm, while crossing the footbridge in front of Mother Care Hospital, an unidentified individual pulled my hair from behind, dragged me down the stairs, and physically assaulted me. He ran away when I screamed.”

Shanto Shan, who accompanied Bithi to the police station, said: "We saw someone in the CCTV footage and believe he is the attacker. For now, we have filed a general diary and will decide on pursuing a case later."

Human rights activist Khushi Kabir told bdnews24.com, “Today [Saturday] it happened in Dhanmondi, and earlier it happened in Cox's Bazar. The attacker questions why a woman would walk alone, questions her clothing. The question now is, why has such a situation arisen? Why is anyone attacking someone at will? How have things reached this point?”

She added, "People like this have always existed in society, but they couldn’t attack someone at will. There are laws in place to prevent such acts, and they knew that committing these would lead to imprisonment. But now, what has happened that attacks are occurring one after another? Attacks on minorities, in the hills, on temples and places of worship are happening—these are not good signs."

She concluded, "Misogyny has always been present in society, but what has changed that allows individuals to gain the courage and opportunity to attack at will? People are doing whatever they please, and now the situation has reached a state of chaos."

Bithi most recently summited the Island Peak in the Himalayas in Oct 2021. She completed a basic mountaineering training course from India’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in 2016.

In May 2018, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to conquer Tibet’s Lakpa Ri (7,045 metres). In May 2019, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to cross the Tashi Lapcha Pass (5,755 metres) in the Himalayas.

Bithi was also the first Bangladeshi woman to cross the famous Three-Pass Trek in the Himalayas in Nov 2021. In 2015, she trekked to the base camp of Mount Kyajo Ri (15,500 feet) in Nepal.

In October 2016, Bithi successfully summited Nepal’s Mera Peak (6,474 metres). In April 2017, she crossed the Thorong La Pass (5,416 meters) in Nepal. In October of the same year, she completed the Manaslu Circuit (5,106 metres) as part of the first Bangladeshi team.