A female Ansar member sued three of her senior colleagues, alleging sexual harassment and dismissal against them.

The 27-year-old, posted in Habiganj, yesterday submitted the file to the Court for the Prevention of Repression of Women and Children-1, naming three people — Khaled Ahmed, officer of the Habiganj Sadar upazila of the Ansar-VDF; Aklima Akhtar, Female Coach Ansar-VDP Habiganj Sadar Upazila; and Ansar Party leader Ilias Ali.

According to the case statement, Khaled withheld an honorarium bill of Tk 1,80,000 of the victim and 17 others issued for their duties in Rajnagar area of ​​Habiganj town during the sixth upazila elections.

On September 12, Khaled invited her to “go for a ride” when he went to demand payment, which she declined.

A few hours later, she was asked to visit him at his office to collect the bill. When the victim went to the office, he found Ilias and several others there.

Khaled ordered them to leave, but to wait outside while the victim was forced to stay indoors. Khaled then assaulted her, the case statement said.

While she was trying to escape, Ilias, waiting at the entrance, blocked her and beat her mercilessly, the statement also states.

She was rescued by District Commander Arup Ratan Paul, who sent her to hospital.

Following the incident, a video of the incident was circulated on social media (Facebook) which led to the annulment of the victim’s marital engagement. The victim then lodged a complaint with a local army camp.

On September 20, an army team led by district commander Mirza Sifat-e-Khoda visited the Ansar-VDP office. Instead of helping her, Mirza tried to arrest the victim.

On October 29, the victim and her brother, also an Ansar member, were fired from their jobs because they were protesting the incident.

The victim initially refrained from legal action for fear of losing his job.

Khaled, the officer in question, denied the allegations. He stated that no Ansar member can claim to have misbehaved. He claimed that the woman suddenly argued with party leader Ilias Ali in his office.

Asked about the issue, Ansar-VDP Habiganj district commander Mirza Sifat-e-Khoda claimed that the woman had “damaged her own reputation” by approaching the army with a complaint instead of filing an official complaint.

He stated that she was fired due to various allegations against her.