A Islamic seminary teacher has been taken into police custody following the alleged sexual assault of a ten-year-old female student in the Tongi area of Gazipur, sparking widespread outrage and local protests demanding immediate judicial action.
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim, was apprehended by law enforcement officers following an intensive operation in the wake of the incident, which occurred late on Thursday night, 30 July, within the jurisdiction of the Tongi West Police Station. The victim is a young student enrolled at the local Haji Kalu Mia Mahila Adarsha Madrasa, located in the Bhadam neighbourhood of Tongi.
According to police accounts, the suspect attempted to evade law enforcement by fleeing the scene immediately after the incident came to light. However, mounting anger among local residents quickly led to demonstrations in the neighbourhood, with angry crowds gathering to demand the swift apprehension and prosecution of the accused.
Responding to the rising public unrest and formal complaints, a specialized team from the Tongi West Police Station launched a series of targeted raids across nearby locations. Officers successfully tracked down and detained Ibrahim before transferring him to the station for interrogation.
Speaking on the investigation, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tongi West Police Station, Arifur Rahman, confirmed the arrest and noted that formal legal procedures are currently underway. Police authorities are in the process of filing a statutory case under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act. Arrangements are also being made to provide the young victim with necessary medical examinations and psychological support at a tertiary health facility.
Child safety advocates and local community members have expressed severe distress over the event, reiterating urgent calls for stricter regulatory oversight and safety measures within non-formal and religious educational institutions to safeguard vulnerable young learners. Legal proceedings against the suspect are expected to advance to the local magistrate court in due course.
