Imam arrested over alleged sexual assault on child inside Mosque

Police in Shariatpur’s Jajira upazila have arrested a mosque imam on allegations of attempting to sexually assault a 6-year-old child inside a mosque, triggering shock and anger in the local community.

According to police and local sources, the incident took place at a mosque in the Sardar Kandi area of Joynagar Union on Monday afternoon (April 20). The accused, identified as 60-year-old Abul Bashar, allegedly lured the child into the mosque before attempting the assault.

Local residents said they became aware of the incident and rushed to the scene, detaining the imam on the spot. Police from Jajira Police Station later arrived and took the accused into custody.

The arrested individual is a resident of Chhotogopalpur village in Joynagar Union. He had reportedly been serving as the imam of the mosque for a long time and also worked as a teacher at a nearby women’s madrasa.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saleh Ahmed of Jajira Police Station confirmed the arrest, saying the accused has reportedly admitted to the allegations during preliminary questioning. A case is being prepared and an investigation is ongoing.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the area, with locals demanding strict punishment for the accused and stronger measures to ensure safety in religious and educational institutions.