Police have arrested five people, including two teachers and three students, over allegations that a madrasa student was repeatedly raped and subjected to physical abuse over a period of six months.
The arrests were made during raids carried out in several parts of Bangladesh from Friday night, 4 September, through Saturday morning, 5 September. The victim’s family filed a case alleging that the child had been sexually abused on multiple occasions and assaulted to prevent the allegations from being disclosed at home.
At a press briefing held at Savar Model Police Station on Saturday afternoon, Dhaka District Additional Superintendent of Police and Savar Circle officer Rakibul Hasan Eshan confirmed the arrests. He said police teams had analysed information and other evidence before conducting coordinated operations in different districts.
According to the police, teams from Savar Model Police Station, Ashulia Police Station and the Detective Branch carried out raids in Barguna, Bhola, Sirajganj, Gazipur and Dhaka. The operation resulted in the arrest of five suspects. Police said some of those detained had made admissions during preliminary questioning, although investigators have not disclosed details while the investigation remains under way.
The arrested suspects include three boys aged 12, 13 and 15, all of whom are students of the madrasa, along with two teachers, Jaber Hossain, 21, and Md Kamrul Islam, 26.
Police said allegations of rape had been brought against the three students and teacher Jaber Hossain. A separate allegation has been made against Kamrul Islam, who is accused of physically assaulting the victim in an attempt to stop the child from telling family members about the alleged abuse.
The case originated from a complaint filed by the victim’s father on 23 August before the court of Masrur Salekin, a judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Child Violence Suppression Tribunal. After considering the application, the court directed Savar Model Police Station to register it as a formal case.
The complaint named 10 people connected with the madrasa in the Purba Shahbag area of Savar. They included five students, four teachers and the institution’s director. The complaint alleges that five students and one teacher were directly involved in sexual abuse, while three other teachers and the director were accused of assaulting and threatening the victim instead of taking action over the alleged abuse.
The case has raised serious concerns about the safety of children in residential and educational institutions, where young students can be particularly vulnerable if effective supervision and complaint mechanisms are absent. Child protection experts have repeatedly stressed the need for institutions responsible for children to maintain safe reporting channels and ensure that allegations of abuse are handled promptly rather than suppressed.
Police said the investigation is being treated as a high-priority matter by the Dhaka District Police. Rakibul Hasan Eshan said investigators were continuing efforts to identify and arrest the remaining suspects.
He added that further information could not be disclosed at this stage because doing so could affect the investigation. The arrested suspects are expected to be produced before the court after the completion of the necessary legal procedures.
The allegations are now subject to investigation and judicial proceedings. Any determination of criminal responsibility will ultimately be made through the legal process.
