Police have arrested a private tutor in Mirzapur, Tangail, following allegations that he raped a fourth-grade schoolgirl at a makeshift teaching room inside a stationery shop. The incident sparked anger among local residents, who detained and assaulted the accused before handing him over to the police.
The incident reportedly took place on Wednesday evening, 11 November, at a room used for private tuition inside a stationery shop at Maishamura Bazar in Warshi Union of Mirzapur Upazila.
The accused has been identified as Md Shamsul Alam Sabuj. He is a resident of Putiajani village in Delduar Upazila of Tangail district. His father’s name is Md Siam Mia.
According to information provided by the child’s family and fellow students, several pupils regularly attended private lessons conducted by Sabuj in a room inside the shop. The girl went there for tuition on Wednesday afternoon, as she had done on previous occasions.
However, when evening arrived and she had still not returned home, her mother, Suria Begum, became concerned and went to the shop to look for her daughter.
On reaching the premises, she found the shop’s shutter closed, although lights were still on inside. Suspecting that someone might still be present, she sought assistance from people nearby and entered the shop with them.
According to the family, the mother found her daughter in a distressed condition, without clothes and crying inside the room. She immediately raised the alarm, prompting people from the surrounding area to rush to the scene.
The discovery triggered anger among local residents. They detained the tutor and physically assaulted him before the police arrived. The situation became tense as residents gathered at the shop and demanded action against the accused.
After receiving information about the incident, a police team led by Mirzapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdullah Al Mamun reached the scene. Officers rescued Sabuj from the angry crowd and took him to the police station to prevent further violence and begin legal proceedings.
The child’s mother subsequently filed a case with Mirzapur Police Station, naming the tutor as the accused. The case was registered following the alleged assault.
Abu Raihan, the investigation officer assigned to the case, confirmed that the complaint lodged by the girl’s mother had been accepted. He said preparations were under way to produce the accused before a court and send him to prison through the judicial process.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of children attending private tuition outside their homes. Private tutoring is a common part of children’s education in Bangladesh, with many families relying on individual tutors or small coaching arrangements to support their children’s studies. However, the safety of the premises, supervision arrangements and accountability of tutors remain important considerations for parents.
Child protection experts generally stress the importance of ensuring that children receive tuition in safe, appropriately supervised environments. Parents and guardians also need clear arrangements regarding lesson timings, communication with tutors and the return of children after classes.
The case is now subject to police investigation. The allegations against the tutor will need to be examined through the legal process, while the child’s safety, privacy and access to appropriate support should remain the immediate priorities.
