A substitute madrasa teacher accused of sexually abusing six young pupils has been apprehended by police following a fugitive hunt that led investigators to Gazipur.
The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Mahbubur Rahman, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday during a targeted operation in the Kalagachhar area under Gacha Police Station of Gazipur Metropolitan Police. The arrest was confirmed by Ajay Kumar Kundu, Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Narail Sadar Police Station.
Mahbubur, a resident of Balarampur village in the Maizpara Union under Narail Sadar Upazila, was employed as an instructor in the Hifz department at the Taseer Uddin Hafezia Madrasa, located in the Dumurtala area of Narail Municipality. He had been brought in temporarily to cover for a permanent teacher who was away on a 45-day training course. According to police reports, Mahbubur exploited his position of authority during this period, intimidating and sexually assaulting multiple children residing at the institution.
The systematically hidden abuse came to light on 28 August when the mother of an eight-year-old pupil visited the madrasa to see her son. The distressed child disclosed that Mahbubur had assaulted him the previous night.
When the mother confronted the madrasa administration, officials questioned the child further. Encouraged by his bravery, five other young boys residing at the residential institution stepped forward, alleging that they too had been subjected to similar abuse by the same teacher.
Panicked by the immediate revelation and public exposure, Mahbubur absconded from the facility and went into hiding. The mother of one of the victims subsequently lodged a formal complaint at Narail Sadar Police Station on 5 September, initiating a criminal investigation.
Using intelligence and tracking technology, law enforcement agencies located the suspect hiding in Gazipur and carried out a swift raid before dawn on Sunday.
“Following a case filed by the mother of one of the victims regarding the abuse of six pupils, police conducted an operation and arrested the accused,” stated Inspector Ajay Kumar Kundu. “During initial interrogation, the suspect confessed to sexually assaulting all six children. Legal procedures have been completed, and he has been produced before the court.”
The medical examination of the young victims is under way as part of the gathering of evidence for prosecution. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, sparking urgent demands from parents for stricter vetting and child protection safeguards within residential religious institutions.
