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Published : 17 May 2026, 02:33 PM
A woman has allegedly been killed in an attack by BNP and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya over a “ha-ha” reaction to a post on the social media site Facebook.
The incident took place in the Taipalong area of the Upazila’s Rajapalong Union around 8pm on Saturday, said Ukhiya Police Station chief Mujibur Rahman.
The deceased, Saida Begum, was a local resident.
Locals said that graffiti stating “Joy Bangla, Joy Sheikh Hasina” (“Victory for Bangla, Victory for Sheikh Hasina) was written on the wall of the Taipalong Madrasa a few days ago. Local BNP leaders filed a complaint with the police station against some leaders and activists of the Awami League and the banned Chhatra League.
This sparked a back-and-forth discussion on social media. On Saturday evening, Chhatra Dal activist Jishan Sikder made a post on Facebook regarding the wall writing.
Mohammad Yunus of Taipalong area gave a “ha-ha” reaction to the post. The reaction sparked further tensions as Yunus was known in the area as a member of the banned Chhatra League.
It was alleged that, on Saturday night, some leaders and activists of the BNP and its student affiliate Chhatra Dal detained Yunus and began beating him. When Yunus’s friend and local NGO worker SM Imran tried to save him, he was also beaten.
Imran's mother, Saida, rushed to the spot after receiving the news. Her family alleges that she was also attacked while trying to save her son.
At one point, she fell ill on the spot. She was taken to the Ukhiya Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead.
Imran alleged, “My friend Yunus and I were sitting in a shop at the station. Suddenly, 10-12 people, including local ward BNP president Abdur Rahim and his son Akash, BNP leader Mizan Sikder and his son Jishan Sikder, and labour leader Saiful Sikder attacked us.
“At one point during their beating, my mother came running to save me, but they also beat my mother.”
He said, “We are not involved in any politics. I want justice for those who killed my mother.”
However, BNP leader Mizan and his son Jishan held a press conference the night after the incident, denying the allegations. They claimed they were not at the scene at the time of the incident.
Jishan said, “They are trying to frame me and my father due to a political vendetta. I want a fair investigation from the administration.”
Upazila BNP President Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury said, “The police are investigating the matter. If the investigation proves that the woman died in the attack and someone from the BNP was involved, organisational action will be taken.”
Cox’s Bazar Police Superintendent ANM Sajedur Rahman said, “A scuffle broke out between the two parties over a ‘ha-ha’ reaction to a Facebook post. The deceased woman was injured at the time. Later, when she was taken to the hospital, the doctor declared her dead.”
Ukhiya police chief Mujibur said, “The post-mortem report did not find any visible injury marks on the woman’s body. An investigation is under way to find the true cause of death. The body of the deceased woman has been sent to the Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for a post-mortem.”
He also said that no case had been filed in the incident as of Sunday morning. However, Yunus was taken into police custody from the scene.
