Teacher Remanded in Custody Over Alleged Rape of Schoolgirl in Keraniganj

A grave accusation of rape has been levelled against an assistant teacher, Ramzan Ali (31), of Elegant School and College in Keraniganj, Dhaka, involving a fourth-grade female student of the institution. Following the allegation, Ramzan Ali was arrested by the South Keraniganj Police Station. Subsequently, on Wednesday (10 December) afternoon, the court ordered that he be taken into police remand for one day for further questioning.

The case was initiated after the victim’s mother filed a complaint with the South Keraniganj Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on Sunday (7 December). Acting on this formal complaint, the police proceeded to arrest the accused teacher on Monday (8 December) night.

According to the details provided in the First Information Report (FIR), the accused teacher, Ramzan Ali, not only taught at the school but also provided private tutoring to the child at her residence. On 26 November, the child returned home from school feeling unwell, prompting her mother to take her to a local clinic. After receiving initial treatment there, the child was brought back home. However, when her physical condition deteriorated further two days later, the family decided to take her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Extensive examinations conducted at the hospital’s One Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) confirmed that the child had been raped. The victim is currently admitted to Dhaka Medical Hospital, where she is receiving treatment.

In response to the serious accusation, the Headmaster of Elegant School and College, Anwar Zahid, made a statement to the media, asserting: “A teacher from our school cannot possibly commit such a heinous act. A vested quarter is deliberately attempting to tarnish the reputation of the school.” The Headmaster’s statement suggests a defence of the teacher’s reputation and an attempt to counter the damaging effect of the allegation on the school’s standing.

The Investigating Officer (IO) of the case, Sub-Inspector (SI) Rafiqul Alam of the South Keraniganj Police Station, confirmed the sequence of events, stating: “A specific case was filed naming Ramzan Ali, and we promptly proceeded with his arrest based on that complaint. We had sought a five-day remand from the court to question the accused further regarding the details of the incident. Following the hearing of arguments from both sides, the court granted a one-day remand.”

The investigating officer further explained that the purpose of the remand is to thoroughly and meticulously interrogate the accused to uncover the exact circumstances of the offence and ascertain if there were any underlying reasons or accomplices involved. This incident has generated significant concern among educational institutions and parents in the area. The fact that such a serious accusation has been made against an individual in a teaching profession has caused widespread shock and mixed reactions among the public. The victim’s family is demanding exemplary and swift justice for this brutal act.

Currently, the utmost priority remains ensuring the physical and psychological well-being of the child, who is receiving hospital care. The investigation and legal process are ongoing, and the accused is due to be presented before the court again following the conclusion of the one-day remand period.