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Published : 25 Oct 2025, 12:20 AM
Police have launched an inquiry after a video showing a little girl crying and being slapped while clinging to her father during an arrest.
The video sparked outrage on social media, especially after someone appeared to slap the child across the face.
The incident reportedly took place in Geneva Camp under Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Police Station on Thursday, when police arrested a man suspected in a murder case.
In the viral footage, the 7- or 8-year-old girl can be seen holding onto her father and weeping inconsolably as officers lead him away.
When an unidentified person slaps her, the child bursts into louder sobs before being pulled away from her father.
Netizens have condemned the act, accusing police of hitting the child in front of her detained father.
Many criticised the cruelty of the moment, while some Awami League supporters shared the video claiming the arrested man was a party activist.
Police officials, however, confirmed the video’s origin and said an internal inquiry is ongoing.
ADC Jewel Rana of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Tejgaon Division told bdnews24.com, “The incident has come to our attention. Following the murder of a man named Zahid in Geneva Camp, police arrested a suspect, Rustam, along with several yaba tablets. As he was being taken to the station, his daughter came running to him. At that moment, someone slapped the child.”
He added, “We are taking the matter seriously and looking into who slapped the girl.”
Geneva Camp has seen growing unrest in recent days amid clashes between rival drug-running groups.
On Thursday morning, a young man identified only as Zahid was killed in an explosion during one such confrontation.
Later that night, police launched a raid and arrested several suspects, including Rustam.
On Friday, police presented Rustam and three others before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrate Aulad Hossain Muhammad Jonaid sent them to jail and set Monday for the hearing on their remand plea.
