A tribunal in Netrokona has set 11 November for the verdict in a case involving the rape and subsequent pregnancy of an 11-year-old girl by her madrasa teacher. Judge Abdus Salam of the Netrokona Prevention of Violence Against Children Tribunal fixed the date following the completion of final arguments on Wednesday.
During the court proceedings, the 30-year-old accused, madrasa teacher Aman Ullah Mahdi, sought permission from the bench to address the tribunal directly. Offering to forfeit his entire personal wealth—including 12 to 15 decimals of land—in exchange for an acquittal, Mahdi pleaded for his release, citing concerns over his ability to support his wife and child during prolonged imprisonment. Defense counsel attempted to raise the possibility of an out-of-court settlement during the session, but the tribunal judge rejected the proposal.
Confirming the conclusion of arguments, Special Public Prosecutor Nurul Kabir highlighted the strength of the prosecution’s forensic evidence. A critical component presented to the court was a DNA analysis conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Bangladesh Police. The forensic report confirmed a 99.99 per cent genetic match between the accused teacher and the child born to the victim.
The incident traces back to a female Qawmi madrasa founded by Mahdi four years ago in Modon upazila. Following her parents’ divorce, the young victim resided with her maternal grandfather and attended the institution, while her mother worked as a domestic helper in Sylhet. The abuse came to light when the mother returned home after the child experienced physical changes and illness. Medical examinations at a clinic in Modon municipality town on 18 April confirmed that the 11-year-old was pregnant, prompting the child to disclose the ordeal to her family.
Initial attempts by the victim’s family to seek justice locally met with hostility. When the mother confronted the teacher at his residence, Mahdi’s elder brother, Maimon, verbally abused and physically assaulted her. Consequently, the mother filed a formal complaint at Modon Police Station on 23 April, naming both the teacher and his brother as accused parties. Law enforcement officers from the Police Bureau of Investigation subsequently arrested Mahdi in Gouripur, Mymensingh, on 6 May.
To ensure her protection and welfare, the tribunal ordered the victim’s transfer to a safe home run by the Department of Social Services in Sylhet on 12 May. She gave birth to a baby girl at the facility on 2 July. Under judicial directives, forensic samples from the newborn and the young mother were gathered on 29 July for DNA comparison, confirming paternity.
Following the completion of investigations, Sub-Inspector Md Akhteruzzaman of Modon Police Station submitted a formal charge sheet to the court on 27 August, indicting both Mahdi and his brother. The tribunal now awaits the final verdict scheduled for 11 November.
