A schoolteacher in Chapainawabganj has been sentenced to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for attempting to rape and sexually assault a female student, according to the court.
The convicted teacher, Mohammad Golam Kabir, 54, was sentenced by Judge Mohammad Mainuddin Hira of the Chapainawabganj Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on Monday, 5 October.
The court also fined him Tk5,000. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to serve an additional three months in prison without hard labour.
Kabir, the son of the late Tajebul Haque of Satrajitpur Kathaliapara village in Shibganj upazila, was a physical education and health teacher at Satrajitpur High School.
According to the case statement, Kabir had allegedly been making improper advances towards the student and offering her various inducements for some time before the incident.
On the day of the incident, he allegedly asked the Class 10 student to come to the school in the afternoon on the pretext of giving her a biology textbook. After she arrived, he allegedly took her to an office room used by the teachers and employees’ welfare trust and attempted to rape her by force.
The student’s cries for help alerted people nearby. Local people rushed to the room and, according to the case account, broke open the doors and windows to rescue her. Police arrived at the school after being informed and took Kabir into custody.
The incident subsequently led to a case being filed against the teacher. The prosecution presented its evidence before the tribunal during the proceedings, seeking to establish the allegations against the accused.
The case was dealt with under Section 10 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, which covers offences involving sexual assault and related acts against women and children. After considering the evidence, the tribunal found Kabir guilty and imposed the five-year custodial sentence.
Prosecution lawyer M Abdus Salam confirmed the verdict. He said the teacher had been convicted after the offence was proved under the relevant provision of the law.
The case has also highlighted the vulnerability of students within educational institutions, where teachers hold positions of authority and trust. Allegations of sexual misconduct in such settings can have serious consequences for students and their families, making proper safeguards and timely reporting particularly significant.
The court’s verdict brings the trial at the tribunal level to a close with a custodial sentence and financial penalty. The punishment will now be implemented in accordance with the court’s order.
