Tongi madrasa vice-principal jailed over allegation of abusing seven-year-old student, as counter-cases fuel tension
Police in Tongi, Gazipur, have arrested the vice-principal of a madrasa, Musleuddin, in a case filed over the alleged sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl student. He has been sent to jail. Police say the madrasa authorities have also filed a counter-case against the child's guardians.
The incident concerns the Kariol Quran International Madrasa on Shafiuddin Sarkar Academy Road in the Auchpara area of Tongi. The accused, Musleuddin, is the vice-principal of that madrasa.
Quoting the child's family, several people present at the scene said the girl had been unwilling to go to the madrasa for three days. When asked why, she was at first too frightened to say anything. After her parents pressed her repeatedly, she alleged that the madrasa teacher Musleuddin had sexually abused her.
According to the family, after hearing the allegation from their daughter, her father went to the madrasa at noon on Wednesday, 21 October, and confronted the accused teacher about the incident.
As word spread, local residents gathered there. At one stage, they beat the teacher.
On receiving the news, members of the Tongi West police station went to the spot, rescued Musleuddin and took him into custody. Local residents had detained and beaten him before handing him over to the police.
On Thursday, a video of the beating of the accused teacher spread on social media, sparking widespread discussion and criticism across the country.
The madrasa's principal, Almas Hossain, has however claimed that the incident was planned. He said they have lodged a complaint with the police station over the matter.
Arifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Tongi West police station, said on Friday: "The teacher has been sent to jail in the sexual abuse case."
On the other hand, the madrasa authorities have also filed another case naming the child's guardians as accused. Efforts are under way to arrest the accused in that case, the OC said.
As a result, a grave allegation of abuse against a child is now surrounded by cases and counter-cases from two sides, creating tension in the area.
The truth of the allegation will now be determined through investigation and the judicial process. Police say legal proceedings are continuing in both cases.
The child's identity has not been disclosed, in the interest of her safety and dignity. The incident has once again raised serious questions about the safety of children in educational institutions.
