Sornomoye Biswas, a 28-year-old junior graphics designer at the online news platform Dhaka Stream, passed away on Saturday evening in Dhaka.
Dhaka Stream, in a public statement issued shortly after, described her as “a brilliant artist and a dear colleague,” noting that she breathed her last around 6 pm at a private hospital in the capital. Her last rites will be held in her hometown of Jhenaidah.
However, parallel reports and testimonies from inside the newsroom suggest that the circumstances surrounding her death are far more complicated than the official statement acknowledges.
Allegation of Sexual Harassment
Before her death, Sornomoye had reportedly filed a written complaint accusing Dhaka Stream’s Bangla section head, Altaf Shahnewaz, of sexual harassment.
A copy of the complaint, obtained by another outlet (Dhaka Opera), alleges misconduct and workplace harassment. Multiple sources inside Dhaka Stream confirmed to Gonotaar that the allegation was known internally.
Instead of disciplinary action, the accused official was reinstated — a decision that, according to colleagues, had created visible distress among employees.
Discrepancies in Official Statements
Dhaka Stream’s official mourning post claims Sornomoye died on “Thursday evening.” In contrast, her colleagues and Dhaka Opera report that she was found hanging on Saturday evening at a residence in Dhanmondi.
She was taken to Popular Medical College Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Colleagues told reporters that she had previously attempted self-harm on Friday night by consuming sleeping pills.
One source also alleged that her wrists bore injury marks when she was found.
A Colleague Speaks Anonymousl
When Gonotaar contacted one of her colleagues for a reaction, he agreed to speak.
“I honestly don’t know why Swarna took that step. She’d been going through personal issues for a while, was looking for a new place to live, and was on anxiety medication. And yes, the complaint letter that’s circulating is real. But why she made this final decision, I can’t say.”
This testimony indicates that while there were workplace issues, she was also struggling with personal challenges.
Larger Questions About Accountability
The incident has sparked growing criticism and unease over how media institutions in Bangladesh handle internal complaints of harassment.
In Sornomoye’s case, the contrast between the official condolence note and the allegations raised before her death has raised serious questions about transparency, responsibility, and institutional culture.
No Official Statement on the Allegation Yet
Neither Editor-in-Chief Golam Iftekhar Mahmud nor Bangla section head Altaf Shahnewaz has publicly commented on the allegations.
As of Sunday night, no formal legal complaint has been confirmed by police or the family, and the circumstances of her death remain under investigation.
Editor’s Note
Gonotaar is publishing this report with utmost sensitivity, based on verified statements from colleagues and public records. We are withholding any unverified speculation. If the family or Dhaka Stream management wishes to make a formal statement, we will update this report accordingly.
