Wanted justice from Allah, got it: rickshaw-puller assaulted in Bangshal

"I wanted justice from Allah [Creator], I got it."

This is what Abdul Hamid, a rickshaw puller, who was publicly assaulted in Dhaka's Bangshal area on May 4 had to say while talking to The Daily Star this evening.

He was assaulted by a resident of Bangshal, Sultan Ahmed, who was later held by police after a video of the incident went viral.

"Today I filed a case with Bangshal Police Station against Sultan Ahmed for hurting me," Hamid said. He also thanked police for arresting Sultan.

"I was surprised when I saw the video of my assault on television. I learned that police is looking for me," Hamid added.

On the morning of May 5, Hamid went to the concerned police station and introduced himself as the victim, he said.

"As I was sick then, police advised me to meet them later. So, I went to my village," said Hamid, who hails from Durgapur upazila of Netrakona.

"The assaulted rickshaw puller today filed a case against Sultan Ahmed," Mir Rezaul Islam, inspector (investigation) of Bangshal Police Station, told The Daily Star.

Police detained Sultan soon after a video of him assaulting a rickshaw-puller went viral on social media on May 4, which triggered widespread criticism.

In the video, Sultan Ahmed, a resident of the area, was seen verbally abusing and hitting the rickshaw-puller.

Despite being assaulted, the rickshaw-puller was seemingly calm and was weeping. Yet, Sultan continued slapping him. At one stage, the rickshaw-puller collapsed and lost consciousness.

Sultan then tried to pull the man, holding him by the collar, when passers-by intervened and stopped him.

Police detained the man who assaulted the rickshaw puller on May 4.