Madrasa student remanded over rape charges

A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for a senior madrasa student, Md. Shihab Hossain, in connection with a case filed over the rape and abetment of suicide of a 10-year-old fellow student in the capital's Rampura.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibuzzaman passed the order following a petition by the investigation officer on Thursday (May 21). Court Prosecution Sub-Inspector (SI) Abul Kalam Azad confirmed the remand order.

Earlier, Shihab was arrested from Khakchhara village under the Bera Police Station area in Pabna on Wednesday night.

The investigation officer of the case, Rampura Police Station SI Saiful Islam, produced the accused before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.

Representing the state, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk argued in favour of the remand, stating, "Such incidents are a disgrace to the nation. Only yesterday, another child was mutilated after being raped. These recurring incidents inside madrasas are profoundly damaging to society and our education system. I pray for the maximum seven-day remand."

When the judge asked the accused if he had any legal representation, Shihab replied in the negative. The court then sanctioned a five-day remand, specifying that the interrogation must be completed within the next eight working days.

Police recovered the body of 10-year-old Md. Abdullah, found hanging from a ceiling with a scarf inside the 'Alokito Quran International Hifz Madrasa' in Banasree Block-C, Rampura on Tuesday night. The body was subsequently sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Deputy Commissioner Harun Or Rashid stated, "During the preparation of the inquest report, primary signs of unnatural sexual assault were detected on the victim's body."

Upon interrogation, the madrasa authorities revealed that Shihab Hossain had previously faced allegations of sexually abusing four other students at the institution. Following the discovery, a case was lodged.

The victim's mother, Tuku Ara Khatun, filed a case with the Rampura Police Station on Wednesday, naming Shihab and several unidentified individuals as accused for raping Abdullah and driving him to suicide.