Renowned Bangladeshi mountaineer Shayla Bithi was attacked by a group of miscreants while crossing an overbridge at Dhanmondi area in the capital on Saturday.
The assault, which took place in broad daylight, left Bithi with multiple injuries, including a cut lip and bruises across her body, as reported by her husband, Senior journalist Taimur Faruk Tusher.
Taimur told the Bangladesh Post, “Police must find out who did this and for what purpose. Surely, the CCTV cameras captured the attack, which happened in broad daylight after 2pm. Identifying the perpetrators should not be difficult. Shayla Bithi went to Mohammadpur Police Station to file a complaint.”
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at the footbridge in front of Dhanmondi Government Boys High School. After the incident, Bithi went to the Mohammadpur Police Station but was directed to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station since the location falls under its jurisdiction.
Upon hearing the complaint, a team from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station went to the scene.
Shanto Shan, who accompanied Bithi to the police station, said: “We are going to the scene with police. They are taking us to check the nearby CCTV footage.”
He added that police have not yet accepted a written complaint.
Describing the incident, Shanto said, “While descending from the footbridge, someone suddenly grabbed a fistful of Bithi’s hair. The attackers tried to pull her upward, but Bithi sat down. During the struggle, Bithi started screaming. Some people were working on the road below the footbridge.
“At one point, the attackers let go of Bithi and ran away upward. Bithi stood up and looked back, but didn’t see anyone. However, we suspect there may have been 2-3 attackers.”
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station chief Mozammel Haque said, “As she was descending from the footbridge, someone or some people grabbed her hair. However, she did not see the attackers.
“She fell on the stairs and was injured. Based on such a complaint, we have sent a team to the scene. Appropriate legal action will be taken.”
Women's rights activist Khushi Kabir expressed concern over the attack and criticized the current state of law and order in Dhaka, stressing the urgent need to address public safety concerns, especially with such incidents occurring in broad daylight.
Bithi most recently summited the Island Peak in the Himalayas in Oct 2021. She completed a basic mountaineering training course from India’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in 2016.
In May 2018, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to conquer Tibet’s Lakpa Ri (7,045 metres). In May 2019, she became the first Bangladeshi woman to cross the Tashi Lapcha Pass (5,755 metres) in the Himalayas.
Bithi was also the first Bangladeshi woman to cross the famous Three-Pass Trek in the Himalayas in Nov 2021. In 2015, she trekked to the base camp of Mount Kyajo Ri (15,500 feet) in Nepal.
In October 2016, Bithi successfully summited Nepal’s Mera Peak (6,474 metres). In April 2017, she crossed the Thorong La Pass (5,416 meters) in Nepal. In October of the same year, she completed the Manaslu Circuit (5,106 metres) as part of the first Bangladeshi team.
