Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

TikTok troll harasses Bangladeshi women in UK, leaves them 'suicidal'

The TikTok troll inflicts psychological trauma by stealing personal data, issuing threats, and subjecting victims to ridicule.

TikTok troll harasses Bangladeshi women in UK, leaves them 'suicidal'

Women from the Bangladeshi community in the United Kingdom (UK) are facing severe distress due to relentless harassment from a TikTok troll.

Despite reaching out to authorities and social media platforms, many feel helpless as the abuse continues unchecked, a BBC investigation has found.


The troll, Hasan Syed, inflicts psychological trauma by stealing personal data, issuing threats, and subjecting victims to ridicule, leaving them feeling helpless and suicidal.

Bangladeshi women's struggle

Sultana (name changed for privacy), residing in Yorkshire, shares her harrowing experience of being targetted by the troll. Using TikTok to address issues such as misogyny and toxic relationships, she became a victim after defending a friend similarly attacked.

The abuse, including threats and mockery, left her emotionally shattered, impacting her mental health and triggering PTSD.

“I have always struggled with my mental health and I have had intense therapy to get over this but it triggered my PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)," Sultana told BBC.

"I felt that all of the hard work I had done to get better went down the drain,” she said.

Masuma, another victim from Wales, recounts her traumatic experience after declining an invitation from Syed to appear on his TikTok live stream. The refusal led to a barrage of abuse, including false accusations of being a sex worker.

“He made videos of me saying that I was a sex worker. The repercussions were severe, I had to remove all of my photos, my business phone number and reduce my live sessions," she said.

"I received inappropriate calls and faced embarrassing inquiries from students,” Masuma told BBC.

The troll's tactics

Hasan Syed, a Bangladeshi national, is the troll targetting numerous Bangladeshi women in the UK.

He is based in the suburbs of Paris, employing various tactics to torment his victims. By stealing personal photographs and information, he creates distressing videos, making threats and ridiculing his targets.

He torments and terrorises people by stealing personal photographs and information from their social media feed and puts them on a "green screen" in videos. Syed sometimes makes fun of their appearance and makes threats to rape and kill, reported BBC.

Kamrul's fight for justice

Kamrul Islam and his wife and family were also targeted by the troll. Islam, upon discovering Syed's activities, took a stand against the troll, only to face threats against his family.

Islam's first encounter with the TikTok troll was in January 2023 when he came across Syed's channel and said he was appalled by what he saw, he told BBC.

He made contact with Syed online to ask him to stop but it immediately put him and his family in the firing line. “He started making videos about me, he got some pictures of my son, my mum, and my wife from my Instagram account and openly threatened to rape them," he said.

After reporting Syed to Staffordshire Police, Kamrul got in touch with TikTok to demand they take down the videos but was told they found "no violation" of their community guidelines.

He then contacted the British embassy in Paris in February 2023. Despite lodging complaints with authorities, including Interpol, the complexities of international jurisdiction and bureaucratic hurdles have hindered efforts to hold Syed accountable.

Government intervention

The UK government passed the Online Safety Bill in October last year, aiming to hold social media platforms accountable for illegal content. The government says the new law makes the internet safer for children.

A spokesman from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology said that people should report any threats they receive to police as social media firms were now responsible for tackling illegal content, reported BBC.

More For You

Modi courts Latin nations to expand trade relations

Christine Kangaloo awards Narendra Modi with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago last Friday (4)

Modi courts Latin nations to expand trade relations

INDIA’S prime minister, Narendra Modi met Argentine president Javier Milei in Buenos Aires last Saturday (5), urging the expansion of New Delhi’s preferential trade deal with South America’s Mercosur bloc.

The bilateral talks with Milei were the latest in Modi’s whistle-stop diplomatic tour culminating in the summit of Brics emerging economies which began last Sunday (6) in Brazil.

Keep ReadingShow less
Minister 'open to talks' on British Sikh regiment

Lord Coaker (Photo: UK Parliament)

Minister 'open to talks' on British Sikh regiment

A FRESH parliamentary initiative to establish a dedicated Sikh regiment within the British Army has gained momentum in the House of Lords, with defence minister Lord Coaker expressing willingness to engage in further discussions about the long-debated proposal.

The issue was raised in the House of Lords on Monday (7) by Labour peer Lord Sahota, who asked whether there had been any progress on long-standing calls for a Sikh regiment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heatwave Alert: Don’t Leave Contraceptives or Medication in Cars

Heat can also damage everyday items like sunglasses, suncream and vape devices

iStock

Drivers warned to remove contraceptives and medication from cars during UK heatwave

Highlights:

  • Experts urge motorists to avoid leaving certain items in vehicles during upcoming heatwave
  • Temperatures expected to rise above 30°C across large parts of the UK
  • Contraceptives and common medications can lose effectiveness in high heat
  • Heat can also damage everyday items like sunglasses, suncream and vape devices

Drivers urged to act as UK braces for extended heatwave

Drivers across the UK are being urged to remove a range of everyday items from their cars ahead of a predicted heatwave, with experts warning that the rising temperatures could pose both safety and health risks.

The Met Office has forecast a prolonged spell of hot weather, with temperatures expected to soar into the low 30s on Thursday and Friday. Much of the UK is likely to hit its regional heatwave threshold by the weekend, with this episode potentially affecting a wider area and lasting longer than previous hot spells.

Keep ReadingShow less
Royal Mail

The Royal Mail logo is seen on the side of a van as the UK government clear a 3.57 billion pound takeover offer by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in London, December 16, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Ofcom updates Royal Mail delivery targets, starts pricing review

MEDIA regulator Ofcom has set new minimum delivery standards for Royal Mail and revised existing targets in an effort to reduce delays. It also announced a review into pricing and affordability, amid concerns over rising stamp prices.

Royal Mail, which has faced fines of around $20 million over the past two years for not meeting delivery targets, is currently trying to modernise operations and focus more on parcel deliveries.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sheikh Hasina

Hasina left for India at the end of the student-led protests and has not returned to Dhaka, where her trial for alleged crimes against humanity began on June 1. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Leaked audio suggests Hasina ordered use of force during 2024 protests

SOME leaked audio recordings suggest Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently on trial in absentia, ordered a deadly crackdown on protests last year.

According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina's government cracked down on demonstrators during an attempt to stay in power.

Keep ReadingShow less