Child Abuse at Noyapaltan School, Manager Detained

Dhaka police have arrested Pobitro Kumar Barua, the manager of Sharmin Academy, following the shocking abuse of a young child at the school’s Nayapaltan branch.

The arrest took place early this morning at a residence in Mirpur, said police, who confirmed that Pobitro Kumar Barua is the husband of Sharmin Jahan, the school’s founder and headteacher.

Assistant Police Commissioner of the Motijheel Zone, Hussain Muhammad Farabi, confirmed the arrest to Prothom Alo, noting that the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Motijheel Division, Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, informed that a separate team is currently conducting a raid to apprehend Sharmin Jahan, the other accused in the case.

The incident occurred on 18 January at Sharmin Academy, located on Mosque Road, Nayapaltan. The victim, a child under the age of four, was enrolled in the pre-play class. A video of the abuse, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the child being subjected to physical assault in the school office.

According to police reports and the footage:

A woman, later identified as Sharmin Jahan, entered the office carrying the child and initially struck them.

The school manager, Pobitro Kumar Barua, who was already in the office, then assaulted the child further, repeatedly covering the child’s mouth and neck and using a stapler to intimidate.

When the child spat on the woman’s saree, the manager pressed the child’s head into the saree and shook them multiple times.

The abusive acts continued as the child became visibly distressed, crying and struggling throughout.

The child’s mother subsequently filed a case with Paltan Police Station, invoking Section 70 of the Child Protection Act, naming both the manager and the headteacher as accused. The case has sparked widespread outrage across the city and has prompted calls for immediate legal action and stricter monitoring of private educational institutions.

Key Details of the Incident:

Police have urged anyone with further information or evidence to come forward as investigations continue. The case has sparked renewed debate over child safety standards in private schools in Dhaka.