NARAYANGANJ — Police have arrested a 28-year-old madrasa teacher in Fatullah, Narayanganj, following allegations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old student under his tutelage. The accused, Md Rafiqul Islam, a native of Tongibari upazila in Munshiganj, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon from the Tahsinul Quran Madrasa located in the Muslimnagar area. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, triggering public outrage and local tension.
According to police and official records, the breakthrough in the case came through the national emergency helpline, 999. Police Inspector Anwar Sattar, media and public relations officer for the service, stated that an anonymous caller dialled 999 on Wednesday afternoon to report that a local teacher had abused a student. The caller informed authorities that infuriated members of the public had cornered and beaten the accused teacher, creating a volatile situation in the neighbourhood.
Acting swiftly upon the emergency alert, the helpline control room immediately notified Fatullah Police Station to dispatch units to restore order. A police team rushed to the scene and, with the assistance of local residents, rescued the accused instructor from the charged crowd and brought him safely to the police station.
Preliminary investigations and statements from the victim’s family reveal that the 17-year-old student had enrolled in the residential madrasa approximately a year ago to memorise the Holy Quran. However, the youth’s tenure at the institution turned into a nightmare. Investigators claim that shortly after his admission, Rafiqul Islam began exploiting his position of authority, subjecting the vulnerable student to repeated abuse under threats of severe consequences and intimidation.
The ordeal reached a critical tipping point late on the night of 31 August, when the teenager fell seriously ill following another assault. Unable to bear the physical and psychological toll, the student returned home and recounted the horrifying details to his mother. Distraught and determined to seek justice, the mother gathered several local residents and confronted the teacher directly at the madrasa premises. According to law enforcement officials, the accused teacher admitted to the wrongdoing during this confrontation.
Following the disclosure, the victim’s mother lodged a formal criminal case at Fatullah Model Police Station, naming the teacher as the sole accused. Police confirmed that Rafiqul Islam has been formally shown arrested under the filed charges and will be produced before the court as legal proceedings advance. Meanwhile, investigators are gathering further evidence to ensure a comprehensive legal process.
