NCP suspends Bogura leader after viral video shows him beaten with shoe over sexual harassment allegations

Female trainees allege he sent obscene messages and harassed them over the phone

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has relieved one of its Bogura leaders of all organisational duties after a video showing him being beaten with a shoe over allegations of sexual harassment went viral on social media.

The leader, Ali Azam Sabbir, is a member of the NCP’s Shibganj Upazila coordination team.

He is also a student on a driving training course at the Bogura Technical Training Centre (TTC).

The 2-minute-10-second video of the May 24 incident began circulating on social media on Friday.

Later that night, the NCP’s Bogura district unit issued a letter, signed by Organising Secretary Shawkat Imran, announcing that Sabbir had been relieved of all party posts and activities.

The video appears to show Sabbir confined inside a room on the campus, surrounded by several students. A woman is seen repeatedly hitting him with a shoe.

Sabbir is later seen admitting in front of others that he had harassed female trainees and a female teacher at the TTC by sending inappropriate messages on their mobile phones. He also promises not to repeat such behaviour and gives a written undertaking.

Several female students at the TTC alleged that Sabbir had made obscene phone calls and sent offensive messages to women attending the driving course. They said his behaviour had left female trainees distressed and angry.

At one point on May 24, several female trainees confined Sabbir inside a room at the TTC and beat him with a shoe. During the incident, Sabbir apologised for his actions, according to those present.

Rashedul Hasan, a driving instructor at the TTC, said Sabbir had behaved indecently with several female trainees.

“That is why a female trainee beat him with a shoe,” he said.

“Later, [he] admitted his wrongdoing and gave us a written undertaking. Once the office reopens, action will be taken against him in line with the decision of the academic council.”

NCP Bogura district Organising Secretary Shawkat said the party acted as soon as the allegation came to its attention.

“[Sabbir] has been relieved of all organisational responsibilities and activities,” he said.

“He has also been served with a show-cause notice and given three days to explain his position.”