A 25-year-old madrasa teacher has been arrested in Tongi, Gazipur, over allegations that he tortured a nine-year-old student by burning him with a hot iron.
The accused, identified as Rabbi Hossain, was arrested following a complaint lodged by the child’s mother. The incident reportedly took place at Miftahul Madrasa in the Cherag Ali area of Tongi. Police said the teacher had initially admitted responsibility for the alleged abuse during questioning.
The victim has been identified as Osman Gani Naim, a nine-year-old student at the madrasa. According to the child’s relatives and the case statement, the alleged assault occurred on Wednesday afternoon, when Rabbi Hossain reportedly used a heated iron to burn the back of the child’s body, specifically his buttocks.
The incident came to light the following evening. On Thursday, the child’s mother visited the madrasa to take him home. During the visit, Naim told her that his teacher had allegedly subjected him to physical abuse using a hot iron. His disclosure prompted his mother to seek legal action over the incident.
The matter was formally brought to the attention of Tongi East Police Station on Sunday night, when the child’s mother submitted a written complaint. Police subsequently took the accused teacher into custody and questioned him about the allegations.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tongi East Police Station Maksudul Alam confirmed the development, saying that police had taken the madrasa teacher into custody as soon as they learned about the incident. During preliminary questioning, Rabbi reportedly acknowledged his involvement, the officer said.
The OC also confirmed that a case had been filed in connection with the alleged assault. Rabbi Hossain was subsequently shown arrested in the case, and police were making arrangements to produce him before a court.
The accused is a resident of Hossainpur upazila in Kishoreganj district, according to police information.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and protection of young students in educational institutions, particularly madrasas where children may spend extended periods under the supervision of teachers. Parents place considerable trust in those responsible for their children’s education and daily care, making the protection of students from physical and psychological abuse a fundamental responsibility.
Cases involving alleged abuse of children by teachers also highlight the difficulties young students may face when reporting mistreatment. Children can sometimes feel frightened or hesitant to speak about incidents involving people in positions of authority. In this case, the alleged abuse came to the family’s attention only after the child disclosed it to his mother during her visit to the madrasa.
The police investigation and subsequent court proceedings will determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and establish the legal responsibility of the accused. The case has once again brought the issue of child safeguarding in educational institutions into focus, underlining the need for a safe learning environment in which students are treated with dignity and protected from physical harm.
