Sylhet: Viral Video of Chained Woman Leads to Three Arrests; City Prepares for President's September 15 Visit
Sylhet dominated Bangladesh's news cycle on September 10, 2026, with a disturbing viral video of a young woman being chained and dragged through the streets of Shahjalal Upsahar prompting swift police action and three arrests. On the civic front, the city was preparing for a presidential visit scheduled for September 15, while a government announcement confirmed the Dhaka-Sylhet highway expansion would be completed by mid-2029.
Three Arrested After Video of Chained Woman Spreads on Facebook
A disturbing incident in Sylhet's Shahjalal Upsahar neighbourhood drew national attention after a video showing a young woman being chained and forcibly dragged along a road went viral on Facebook. Views Bangladesh reported that the woman, around twenty years old, had been detained by traders and local residents on the night of Monday, September 8, on suspicion of attempting to steal from a shop in the B-Block Mosque Market area. CCTV footage of the shop showed three women in burqas entering the premises, with one reaching into the cash box, though it remained unclear from the footage whether any money was actually taken. Around eleven at night, hours after her initial detention, the woman was chained around the waist and made to walk through the street as a form of public humiliation. The video spread widely from Tuesday night, triggering widespread public outrage and condemnation from rights advocates. Sylhet Metropolitan Police's Additional Deputy Commissioner for Media confirmed that the woman had not succeeded in taking any money. Police had initially attended the scene but withdrew after locals indicated they would handle the matter themselves; they returned later that night. Following the video's spread, police arrested shop owner Jakir Hosen, his brother Mozakkir Hosen and Borhan Uddin on charges of unlawful detention, inflicting bodily harm, outraging the woman's modesty and distributing the video. All three were produced in court. [4]
🗳️ City Administration Prepares for President Fakhrul's September 15 Visit
Senior officials in Sylhet convened a special coordination meeting at Sylhet Circuit House in preparation for the upcoming visit of President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to the city on September 15. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported that Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury presided over the preparatory gathering, describing the presidential visit as a significant occasion for Sylhet and all its residents. During the visit, President Fakhrul is scheduled to pay his respects at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shahparan (RA), the revered Sufi saints whose shrines in Sylhet draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors each year. The President will also hold an exchange of views with prominent citizens, including university teachers, journalists, business leaders, professionals and political figures from the city and surrounding area. Minister Ariful emphasised the importance of seamless coordination among all district administration departments to ensure the visit proceeded in an orderly and dignified manner. He called on distinguished members of Sylhet's civil society to participate actively in the planned interactions, saying the President's presence in the city was an opportunity to bring the concerns of the northeastern division directly to the attention of the national leadership. Logistical planning for security, transport and event arrangements was already under way across multiple departments. [2]
Dhaka-Sylhet Highway Expansion on Track for Mid-2029 Completion
The Bangladesh government confirmed that the Dhaka-Sylhet four-lane highway expansion project is on course to be completed by mid-2029, according to Just News BD. A minister announced the timeline in response to questions about the project's progress, providing a firm schedule for one of the country's most consequential road infrastructure investments. The Dhaka-Sylhet highway is the primary artery linking Bangladesh's northeastern Sylhet Division, with its thriving tea industry, growing service economy and large remittance-dependent population, to the national capital. Long stretches of the existing two-lane route have been notorious for chronic congestion, high accident rates and severe travel delays, making the expansion to four lanes a top infrastructure priority for businesses and commuters who rely on the corridor. Once complete, the upgraded highway is projected to significantly cut travel times between the two cities, improve the reliability of freight movement and support investment in Sylhet's expanding commercial and industrial sectors. Diaspora-linked real estate development in and around Sylhet has further intensified demand for better road connectivity, and the confirmation of a mid-2029 target date was broadly welcomed by business groups, logistics operators and local government officials who have been pressing for clarity on the delivery schedule. [6]
🪔 Sylhet Named as Host for Bangladesh vs West Indies Test in November
Bangladesh's cricket board confirmed that Sylhet's international stadium will serve as one of two venues for the upcoming two-Test series between Bangladesh and the West Indies, scheduled across October and November. Cricinfo reported that Dhaka will host the first Test while Sylhet hosts the second, confirming the northeastern city's continued standing as a premier international cricket venue. Sylhet's stadium, surrounded by the tea garden landscape of the Surma valley, has hosted a number of previous Tests and limited-overs internationals and is recognised as one of the most visually striking grounds in Asian cricket. For Sylhet's cricket-passionate public, a Bangladesh home Test carries deep community significance, combining sporting pride with a sense of local identity. The West Indies, one of cricket's storied teams and historically a strong draw for South Asian fans, adds further appeal to the fixture. Local authorities and the Bangladesh Cricket Board were expected to coordinate on ticketing, security and logistics for the November match. For the substantial Bangladeshi diaspora with family roots in Sylhet Division, international cricket at home serves as a shared focal point that connects communities both inside Bangladesh and across the global Sylheti diaspora network in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. [1]
Two RNB Members Held Over Ticket Black Marketing Scheme
Sylhet police arrested two members of the Rifles Nazrul Boys cultural organisation, known as RNB, in connection with an illegal ticket reselling operation. United News of Bangladesh reported that the two individuals were detained in Sylhet as part of a targeted crackdown on black market ticket activity ahead of what appeared to be a high-demand event in the city. Ticket touting is a recurring problem in Bangladesh around popular concerts, sporting events and large public gatherings, with sellers exploiting audience demand to resell tickets far above face value and beyond the reach of ordinary attendees. The arrests signalled that law enforcement in Sylhet was taking a proactive approach to curbing the practice, in keeping with a broader national push to protect consumers and maintain fair access to public events. Police confirmed the identities of the detainees and indicated that investigation was continuing to determine whether additional individuals were involved in operating the scheme. The RNB is a cultural and social organisation with a following in the region, and news that its members were implicated in an illegal commercial activity drew comment from civic leaders. Authorities urged residents to purchase event tickets exclusively through official and authorised channels and to report any suspected black-market activity to police to prevent the exploitation of audiences and the undermining of legitimate event organisers. [3]
Sources: [4] Views Bangladesh · [2] Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) · [6] Just News BD · [1] Cricinfo · [3] United News of Bangladesh