Committee Formed over Cutting Off Tourist's Hair

A committee has been set up today to cut the hair of a tourist at Guliakhali Sea Beach in Sitakunda Upazila, reportedly in the presence of Assistant Commissioner (land) and Executive Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Alam Haque.

The one-member committee was formed as per the instruction of the deputy commissioner Md Illias Hossain with additional district magistrate AZM Sharif Hossain as its head following media report over the issue.

Sitakundu Upazila nirbahi officer Milton Ray said the committee was asked to submit its report within three days.

The incident went viral on Facebook soon after the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon.

Locals said some people were engaged in ‘unsocial activities’ on the sea beach. On information, a team led by Alam seized seven tents and detained a youth from the site.

Later, he ordered his people to cut the youth’s hair as punishment.

Shajahan Saleh, who was the person at the spot, took a photo of the incident and posted it on his Facebook, claiming that the magistrate had ordered the haircut.

The photo evoked angry responses from people who said the incident is an example of misuse of power.

Magistrate Alam claimed that he did not order the haircut. He said some locals cut off the young man’s hair claiming that he had misbehaved with them.

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Milton Roy said he is unaware of the incident and promised to look into it.