Teachers Accused After Students Beaten Over Missing Phone

Two residential students at a madrasa in Sherpur Upazila of Bogura have allegedly been subjected to severe physical abuse after being accused of stealing a teacher’s mobile phone. The incident, which reportedly took place without any concrete evidence against the children, has triggered widespread public outrage after a video of the assault circulated on social media.

The two accused teachers have been identified as Atikul Hasan and Ismail Hossain, both of whom were serving as instructors at the residential madrasa. The victims are young boarding students from Nandigram Upazila in Bogura District.

According to statements from several students at the institution, teacher Atikul Hasan recently reported that his mobile phone had gone missing. Although no evidence was presented to support any allegation, suspicion reportedly fell on the two residential students. Fellow students alleged that on Sunday night the two teachers beat the children repeatedly with sticks in an attempt to force a confession.

Witnesses claimed the assault continued for an extended period. The children allegedly suffered multiple injuries across different parts of their bodies, leaving visible bruises and blood clots. Several classmates said the boys cried throughout the ordeal and pleaded for the beating to stop, but their appeals were ignored.

Relatives of one of the victims said they first learned about the incident on Monday afternoon. After arriving at the madrasa, they found both children lying in considerable pain on beds inside the residential dormitory. The boys were later taken to Sherpur Upazila Health Complex, where they received medical treatment and first aid. Following their discharge later that day, family members took them home. Doctors reportedly advised that their physical condition should remain under close observation to monitor their recovery.

The case gained wider attention after footage of the alleged abuse spread rapidly across social media platforms. The video prompted strong reactions from local residents, many of whom condemned the treatment of the children and questioned the use of corporal punishment in educational institutions.

Soon afterwards, local people gathered outside the madrasa to stage a protest, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and exemplary punishment under the law. Demonstrators argued that no educational institution should justify physical violence against children in the name of maintaining discipline. They insisted that schools and madrasas must provide a safe learning environment where students are protected from abuse rather than exposed to it.

By the time the incident became widely known, however, the two accused teachers had reportedly left the madrasa and gone into hiding. Local residents claimed they disappeared shortly after news of the incident began spreading, preventing police from detaining them immediately.

Sub-Inspector Tofazzal Hossain of Sherpur Police Station said officers visited the madrasa after receiving information about the alleged assault. Police spoke with the injured students and collected preliminary evidence from the scene. He confirmed that the accused teachers could not be arrested because they were absconding, but efforts were continuing to trace and apprehend them.

The police officer added that a full investigation would be conducted and any legal action would be taken in accordance with the findings of the inquiry.

The incident has also renewed concerns among child rights advocates and education campaigners, who argue that corporal punishment has no place in modern education. They maintain that maintaining discipline can never justify physical abuse and stress that allegations against students should always be investigated fairly and without violence.

Campaigners have called for a transparent investigation, accountability for anyone found responsible, and stronger monitoring of residential educational institutions to safeguard children. Local residents echoed those demands, urging the authorities to ensure that similar incidents are prevented in the future and that every child can pursue education in an environment free from fear, intimidation and abuse.