In Gopalganj, a coordinated attack was carried out under the pretext of a search on the home of transgender woman Rajat Shuvro, and she and a transgender friend of hers were confined and beaten. The incident took place on 23 October 2026. The incident was featured in a video report by a television channel.
It is learned that on the day of the incident a group of people entered Rajat’s home and began searching through the various rooms and personal belongings in the name of a search. They scattered furniture and other items and looted the home. During the search, condoms were found, and Rajat and her friend were asked why so many condoms were being kept in the house. Their private lives and gender identity were also questioned at this time. The two were confined inside the house and prevented from going outside. During the questioning they were beaten and intimidated into answering.
The investigation further found that the attackers placed four yaba pills in Rajat’s home and claimed to have recovered them. Rajat and her friend were then beaten and intimidated into admitting that they used yaba. The attackers themselves then handed the two over to the police. The attackers were not detained for trespass, searching the home, beating and looting. Instead, on the basis of the drug use allegation raised by the attackers, police took Rajat and her friend into custody. They were, however, released the same day.
The attack was led by Md. Abdullah Molla. He is known as the muezzin of Gopalganj District Model Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, and his Facebook profile also mentions this occupation. The investigation also found the involvement of a group called “Samakami Protirodh Andolon, Gopalganj” (Anti-Homosexual Resistance Movement, Gopalganj) in the incident. The group became public on 8 October with the launch of a Facebook page.
References
- YouTube — Video report on the attack on the home of a transgender woman in Gopalganj.
Watch the video on YouTube - Nagorik TV — Video report on the attack on the home of a transgender woman in Gopalganj.
Read the Nagorik TV report
