Child abuse: Sharmin Academy manager arrested in Dhaka

Police have arrested Pabitra Kumar Barua, the manager of Sharmin Academy, in connection with a child abuse case at the school in the capital’s Nayapaltan area.

He was arrested from Mirpur last night (22 January), confirmed Hussain Md Farabi, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Motijheel Zone).

Police said the case was filed under Section 70 of the Children Act, naming Pabitra Barua and Sharmin Zaman as the accused.

Earlier, on Tuesday (20 January), a video of the abuse went viral on social media after being shared on Facebook by Advocate Saleh Uddin.

The footage shows a woman, believed to be a teacher, in a pink saree, dragging a four to five-year-old boy in uniform into an office and repeatedly slapping and scolding him as he sits on a sofa.

A man seated behind a desk, also reportedly a teacher, is seen approaching with a stapler and threatening to staple the child’s mouth.

The CCTV footage is dated 18 January at 12:51pm. The child appears visibly terrified, while the woman is seen smirking, drawing condemnation online.

The student, enrolled at Sharmin Academy in Dhaka just seven days ago, described the ordeal to his mother. She said her child has suffered severe psychological trauma since the incident.

“Even in sleep, my child wakes up crying, repeating, ‘Don’t sew my mouth shut. I haven’t done anything. I don’t want to stay here, Mum,'” the horrified mother told The Business Standard.

Outraged, the parents filed a case under the Children’s Act, 2013, demanding exemplary and maximum punishment for the persons involved.

Parents have criticised the school administration for negligence in safeguarding children’s safety and mental well-being.

Sharmin Academy has not issued a formal statement. A visit yesterday found the school empty and the main gate locked. No one responded to calls made to the phone number listed on the school’s Facebook page.