A special tribunal in Jamalpur has sentenced a 45-year-old madrasa teacher to eight years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to rape an eight-year-old female student in DewanGanj upazila. Alongside the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of Tk 2 lakh on the convict following the conclusion of judicial proceedings in the case.

Judge Muhammad Abdur Rahim of the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Tribunal-1 in Jamalpur delivered the verdict on Thursday afternoon in the presence of the accused. The convict, identified as Md Saidur Rahman Munshi, is the son of Juran Ali Mistri and a resident of the Sakuapara area under Hatibhanga Union in DewanGanj upazila.

Providing details of the prosecution case, Special Public Prosecutor Advocate Fazlul Haq stated that the victim was a third-grade student at a local madrasa where Saidur Rahman was employed as a teacher. Taking advantage of his position of authority, the teacher had repeatedly targeted the young girl, calling her under various pretexts before attempting to subject her to sexual assault on multiple occasions.

The criminal case was triggered by a specific incident of attempted rape that took place on 24 April of this year. Following the traumatic ordeal, the victim’s father, Md Abdul Khalek, filed a formal case at DewanGanj Police Station on 3 May under the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Act, naming Saidur Rahman as the sole accused. Law enforcement officers investigated the allegation, gathered relevant evidence, and subsequently submitted a complete charge sheet to the court for trial.

During the judicial process, the tribunal examined the testimonies of five witnesses, including law enforcement officials and material witnesses presented by the prosecution. After assessing the evidence and witness statements, the court found Saidur Rahman guilty beyond reasonable doubt, handing down the prison term and financial penalty to ensure accountability for the crime.