A court has denied the bail application of Muslim Ahmed (30), a madrasa teacher arrested in connection with the sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl at a madrasa in Tongi, Gazipur. On Sunday (October 25), Judge Omar Haider of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court rejected the bail plea and ordered the accused to be sent to jail.

Ahsanullah Chowdhury, an inspector at the Gazipur Metropolitan Court, confirmed the denial of bail to the media. The arrested teacher, Muslim Ahmed, taught at a madrasa in the Auchpara area of ​​Tongi. The victim is a first-grade student at the same institution. Following the allegations of sexual abuse, the teacher was beaten by locals last Wednesday before being handed over to the police.

According to the police, the child’s father filed a case under the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act. The teacher was produced before the court last Thursday, where he was formally arrested in connection with the case. On the same afternoon, the child’s statement was recorded at the Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Meanwhile, as part of the investigation, police visited the madrasa in the Auchpara area on Saturday, collecting evidence—including CCTV footage—and recording statements from individuals who were present at the time of the incident. Arifur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tongi West Police Station, stated that preliminary investigations suggest the allegations of sexual abuse are credible; however, the investigation remains ongoing.

The child’s family alleges that the first-grade student was sexually abused on the staircase of the madrasa’s ground floor on October 19. Following the incident, the child refused to return to the madrasa. When family members asked why, she initially remained silent, but later disclosed what had happened when questioned by her parents. Subsequently, on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 21, the child’s relatives went to the madrasa and confronted the accused teacher. As the incident became known, local residents gathered at the scene, and the teacher was assaulted. Upon receiving the information, the police arrived, rescued the teacher, and took him to the police station. Subsequently, the child’s father filed a case at the police station.

Meanwhile, Almas Hossain, the founder and principal of the madrasa, alleged that a group of 15 to 16 individuals—led by the child’s father—entered the madrasa and assaulted the teacher. Other teachers and security staff who attempted to intervene were also subjected to assault. He further alleged that the madrasa office was vandalized, and that 1.7 million taka in cash along with five mobile phones were stolen. The madrasa authorities have filed a separate complaint regarding this with the police.

Later, the child’s father held a press conference to present his side of the story. He claimed that he had gone to the madrasa solely to seek justice for what had happened to his daughter, and not to incite a ‘mob.’ He denied the allegations of vandalizing the madrasa or taking 1.7 million taka.

Following the circulation of a video on social media showing the assault on the teacher, the incident has become a subject of widespread discussion and criticism. The police are currently investigating both the allegations of child abuse and the subsequent counter-allegations regarding the attack, vandalism, and theft at the madrasa.