Speaking at a press conference, around 3am today (24 October), he said he had gone to the madrasah to seek justice for what had happened to his daughter, not to create a mob.
A madrasa vice-principal in Gazipur has been jailed over alleged child sexual abuse, amid counterclaims of an attack on the institution. Photo: Courtesy
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A madrasa vice-principal in Gazipur has been jailed over alleged child sexual abuse, amid counterclaims of an attack on the institution. Photo: Courtesy
The father of a seven-year-old child allegedly sexually abused at a residential madrasah in Gazipur’s Tongi has denied allegations that he instigated a mob, vandalised the institution and took away Tk17 lakh.
Speaking at a press conference, around 3am today (24 October), he said he had gone to the madrasah to seek justice for what had happened to his daughter, not to create a mob.
He also called for an impartial investigation into the allegations against him and sought security for himself and his family.
The child’s father said, “I went to the madrasah seeking justice for my child, not to create a mob. The institution’s authorities are claiming that I created a mob and went there to occupy a flat. Why would I create a mob? As a father, I went there to seek justice for what happened to my child.”
He continued, “I was not against the madrasah or its teachers. I had enrolled my daughter at the institution for religious education. I was concerned as questions had arisen over my child’s safety there. I am not speaking against Islam or genuine Islamic scholars. I am speaking against those who use their religious identity to commit crimes and try to conceal the truth.”
Denying the allegation of vandalism, he said a small glass tumbler had broken at the madrasah, but it was not intentional.
“Let the CCTV footage be checked to verify where I took Tk17 lakh. It also needs to be clarified how such a large amount of money was kept at the madrasah. There should be a proper investigation into the allegations being made against me,” he added.
Earlier, the incident took place inside the madrasah on Monday (19 October). After allegedly sexually abusing the child and behaving inappropriately with her, the accused threatened to beat her if she told anyone about the incident.
Terrified by the threat, the child stopped attending the madrasah for three consecutive days. Later, she told her parents about the alleged abuse.
After learning the details, her father went to the madrasah on Wednesday (21 October) to confront the accused vice-principal.
As news of the incident spread among locals, anger mounted. An agitated crowd gathered on the madrasah premises, surrounded the accused and beat him.
The accused was rescued from the crowd and detained. A preliminary investigation found evidence supporting the allegations, and the child’s father has filed a case.
A court sent the accused to jail after he was produced before it on Thursday.
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