Child Abused at Noyapaltan School, Manager Arrested

Dhaka police have arrested the manager of a city school in connection with the shocking abuse of a young child. Pabitra Kumar Barua was taken into custody early Friday morning from a residence in Mirpur by officers from Paltan Police Station. Barua is the husband of Sharmin Jahan, founder and principal of Sharmin Academy.

Hussain Muhammad Farabi, Assistant Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Motijheel Zone), confirmed to Prothom Alo that the arrest had been successfully carried out. He added that a separate police team from Paltan Police Station is currently conducting an operation to apprehend Sharmin Jahan. Investigations into the case are ongoing alongside formal legal proceedings.

According to police reports, the incident occurred on 18 January 2026 at Sharmin Academy, located on Masjid Road in the Naya Paltan area of Dhaka. The victim, a pre-play student under the age of four, was subjected to physical and psychological abuse, which was captured on video inside the school’s office. The footage quickly went viral on social media, provoking widespread public outrage.

The video shows:

• Sharmin Jahan striking the child initially.

• Pabitra Kumar Barua then holding the child’s mouth and neck.

• The child being intimidated with a stapler.

• The child becoming visibly distressed while the woman restrained them.

• At one point, the child spat on the woman’s sari, prompting Barua to shake the child’s head.

The child’s mother subsequently filed a formal complaint with Paltan Police Station. Both Barua and Jahan have been named as defendants under Section 70 of the Children Act. Authorities emphasise that the case remains under active investigation, with forensic evidence and witness testimony being examined to ensure the perpetrators are brought swiftly to justice.

The case has sent shockwaves through social media, raising urgent questions about child safety and the governance of educational institutions in Dhaka. Parents and education professionals have expressed deep concern over the oversight of schools catering to very young children.

A summary of the key details is provided below:

Police have assured the public that the investigation is progressing and that stringent measures will be taken against those responsible. The case has reignited national discourse on the safety of children in educational institutions, with parents demanding stricter accountability and oversight.