Imagine enjoying a peaceful day at the beach, only to be confronted by a group of men shouting at you, demanding explanations for simply existing in public. This nightmare has become a grim reality for many women in Bangladesh, as evidenced by a recent series of viral videos that spotlight the deep-rooted issue of harassment under the guise of morality.
On September 11th, a series of disturbing videos went viral showing a group of men, led by Farokul Islam, policing unaccompanied women in Cox's Bazar. In one video, Farokul is seen brandishing a stick and verbally abusing a woman on the beach. He forces her to do sit-ups while holding her ears, surrounded by a crowd, many of whom are filming the scene. One woman even pulls down the victim's mask to reveal her face to the cameras.
In another instance, Farokul and his group confront a woman sitting on a beach chair late at night, aggressively questioning her presence. Her repeated pleas—"I am just a tourist, what is my fault?"—fall on deaf ears as they force her to leave.
A third video captures a distraught woman pleading with policemen at a beachside restaurant for help recovering her stolen mobile phone, taken by the group. “I’ll buy a ticket and leave for Dhaka immediately if you just return my phone,” she begs.
What is particularly troubling about these incidents is that the perpetrators proudly uploaded these videos to Facebook, boasting about their actions. Farokul and his group defended their behavior by labeling the women immoral, rallying public support for their actions. The comment sections of these posts were flooded with abusive remarks about women's clothing, with many justifying the harassment as a form of "moral correction." This shows just how deeply entrenched victim-blaming and misogyny are in our society. But here’s the crux: nothing—absolutely nothing—justifies this kind of harassment. Not the time of day, not what someone is wearing, and certainly not self-righteous claims of morality. Farokul’s actions reveal a mindset that believes it is acceptable to police women’s behavior and dress, ignoring the fact that women, like everyone else, deserve respect and autonomy.
On September 15th, another chilling account surfaced on social media. Agatha Aunna Mondal shared her experience at 9 a.m. while waiting for her sister near the Mirpur 11 metro station. A man pretending to be mute approached her for money. When she realized his deception, he began harassing her, criticizing her for wearing jeans and not covering her head. Thankfully, an older man intervened, dismissing the harasser. But the incident illustrates that harassment can happen anywhere, anytime, even in broad daylight, and once again, the focus on women’s clothing becomes the scapegoat.
Today, it's a woman wearing jeans being harassed. Tomorrow, it could be any woman who dares to step outside, for any reason.
This issue isn’t new—only its intensity seems to be growing. In 2022, a young woman was attacked at Narsingdi train station for wearing a crop top and jeans. An elderly lady initiated the assault, accusing her of indecency, with other men soon joining in. Her friends were beaten, and she had to seek refuge in the station master's office as a hostile crowd swarmed around her.
What struck me most when reading these stories is how quickly judgment is cast on the women—before any thought is given to the men who feel so entitled to control and degrade them. Time and again, the common thread in these incidents is the policing of women’s bodies and choices, while men, who often instigate these situations, walk away unscathed. It’s exhausting to see the same narrative play out again and again: a woman is harassed, people say it’s because of her clothing, and somehow, the conversation centers on what she could have done differently, rather than holding the men accountable for their actions.
What’s worse is that some women themselves participate in this cycle of harassment, siding with men to shame other women for their appearance or attire. This internalized misogyny only serves to reinforce patriarchal norms, giving men more power to control women's behavior. We must challenge this mindset. It’s not about what a woman wears; it’s about her right to exist in public spaces without fear of judgment or violence. And if we allow this kind of moral policing to continue unchecked, it will only escalate. Today, it's a woman wearing jeans being harassed. Tomorrow, it could be any woman who dares to step outside, for any reason.
It’s time for society to stop policing women’s bodies and start addressing the real issue: the toxic belief that anyone has the right to control or judge someone else based on their appearance. We need to foster a culture of respect, where diversity is embraced, and personal freedom is upheld. Only then can we begin to create a safer, more inclusive society for everyone.
I’m Tanzina Rahman Prome, a Development Studies student at the University of Chittagong. Passionate about social change, I volunteer with various organizations and write about pressing societal issues. As a cause-driven entrepreneur, I strive to create impactful solutions for community well-being.
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