Madrasa teachers accused of torturing 9-year old student on theft allegations

Three teachers of a Qawmi madrasa in Dinajpur have been accused of torturing a 9-year-old student for four hours after levelling charges of theft against him.

The victim, Abu Sayeed, fell sick after the torture that lasted from Juma prayers to Asr prayers on Friday at Nurani Talimul Quran Hafizia Madrasa in Kamalpur union of Sadar Upazila.

His father, Hasan Ali, rescued him on Monday after finding out and admitted him to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital.

The teachers, Hafez Md Rezaul Islam, Maulana Reazul Islam and Maulana Sariful Islam, have not been seen in the area since the incident.

More than 150 students are enrolled at the madrasa.

The victim said the teachers locked him up in a room and tortured him from noon to around 5pm.

They accused him of stealing money from another student. Sayeed continued that he fainted thrice during the beating.

Locals got agitated after learning about the torture.

The chairman of the madrasa and Mohanpur Union Parishad, Mazedur Rahman Jewel, said: “Those involved with the torture will not be let off.

“There is nothing to deny about the incident. The tortured boy is enough proof,” he told bdnews24.com.

He added, a five-strong committee, headed by a UP member, had been formed and asked to report their findings by Apr 28.

Measures would follow.

Hasan Ali told bdnews24.com: “The teachers asked my son to not tell anyone about the beating.”

However, the man is unwilling to go to the police. “I have left it up to the people to judge this incident.”