A court in Gazipur has rejected the bail petition of a madrassa teacher arrested on charges of sexually abusing a seven-year-old female student in Tongi. Judicial Magistrate Omar Haider of the Gazipur Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court issued the order on Sunday, sending the accused teacher, Muslim Ahmed, to jail following a detailed hearing. Court Inspector Ahsanullah Chowdhury confirmed the judicial development to the media.
The incident reportedly took place on October 19 on the ground floor staircase of a local madrassa in the Auchpara area of Tongi. The victim, a first-grade student, was allegedly subjected to abuse by the 30-year-old teacher. As news of the incident spread, local residents grew outraged, apprehending the teacher and handing him over to the police last Wednesday. A video capturing the public confrontation subsequently circulated widely on social media platforms, drawing significant local attention.
Following the incident, the victim's father lodged a formal case against the teacher under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act at the Tongi West Police Station. The accused was produced before the court last Thursday, and the victim's judicial statement was recorded under section 22 by a magistrate on the same afternoon, detailing the harrowing experience.
In connection with the ongoing investigation, police visited the madrassa on Saturday to gather crucial evidence, including CCTV footage from the premises, and interviewed witnesses present during the time of the incident. Officer-in-Charge Arifur Rahman of Tongi West Police Station stated that preliminary investigative findings substantiate the allegations of abuse, though comprehensive inquiries remain underway.
The incident has sparked profound outrage among local parents and civil society groups, who have strongly condemned the act and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrator. Observers emphasize the urgent need for enhanced security and ethical screening within educational institutions to protect vulnerable children. With the court denying bail, the legal proceedings move forward, and police are expected to finalize their investigation report soon.
