Pabna, Aug 31 (V7N) – Residents and members of the local business community in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna held a human chain protest on Saturday, (Aug 30) afternoon, demanding immediate action against a suspected prostitution and blackmail ring, and calling for social resistance against obscenity, drug abuse, and public indecency.
 
The protest took place at the Kheyaghat area of Natun Bazar and was attended by community leaders, educators, political activists, and local residents. The event was moderated by Nasim, former General Secretary of the Chatmohar unit of the student wing of the BNP.
 
Speakers at the protest included Abdur Rahim Kalu, Principal of Chatmohar Technical School and College; Mokhlesur Rahman Bidyut, President of the Chatmohar Business Association; Sheikh Ziarul Haque Sintu, General Secretary of the same association; Helalur Rahman Jewel, President of the Chatmohar Press Club; Touhidul Islam Taizul, General Secretary of the Chatmohar Municipal BNP; Tanvir Jewel Likhan, Convenor of the Municipal Youth Wing; as well as local businessmen Alhaj Arju, Ashraful Islam, and Abdul Matin, among others.
 
During the protest, speakers voiced their anger over the recent circulation of explicit videos on social media allegedly involving a group of misguided local youth engaged in drug use and immoral activities. The videos, which have gone viral, have caused public outrage and damaged the reputation of the area.
 
According to the protestors, a group has been luring young men and women into drug use and indecent acts, secretly recording the encounters, and later using the footage to blackmail the individuals and extort money from them and their families. They described the operation as both “heinous and alarming.”
 
The protesters demanded that law enforcement authorities arrest those responsible within 24 hours. If no action is taken, they warned of intensified protests and stronger movement from the community.
 
END/MSR/SMA/