Questions mount over madrasa student's death, family alleges torture

Police have recovered the body of a 12-year-old student, Md Naim Sheikh, from the bathroom of a madrasa in the Jorakhamba area of Dhaka's Rayerbagh. The body was recovered from a washroom on the third floor of Rowzatul Ulum Hafizia Madrasa on Monday, August 3.

Questions have emerged surrounding Naim's death. The madrasa authorities claimed the child committed suicide by hanging himself from a shower in the washroom. However, police have reported finding marks of cane blows on his body. Naim's family has alleged that he was beaten and said they cannot believe Naim committed suicide.

Kadamtali Police Station Sub-Inspector Saddam Hossain said the body was recovered from the third-floor washroom of the madrasa in the Rayerbagh Jorakhamba area upon receiving information. He was found lying down at the time.

The police officer said that initially, marks of cane blows were visible on the child's body. However, it has not yet been confirmed exactly how he died.

Regarding the information provided by madrasa authorities, SI Saddam Hossain said they had claimed Naim committed suicide by hanging from the shower in the washroom. However, due to the cane marks on the body, police also want to ascertain the actual cause of death. The body was sent for autopsy for this reason.

After news of Naim's death spread, his relatives gathered outside the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The child's body lay on a stretcher, surrounded by grieving family members, including mother Nazma Begum.

A relative, in a tearful voice, alleged, "The teachers are beating them to death."

Naim's mother, Nazma Begum, could not accept her son's death as natural, pointing to injury marks below his knees. She claimed Naim was not in a situation that would lead him to suicide.

Nazma Begum said, "If someone hangs themselves, there would be marks in one place, not all over the body. I demand justice for my son's murder."

Naim's uncle, Sumon, also alleged that teachers had beaten him with canes the day before his death. He said the family had come to know about the beating.

Naim's father, Babu Sheikh, is a rickshaw-puller. Naim was the eldest of two brothers, and was a beloved child of his parents.

The family has been devastated by the child's death. Relatives are demanding answers to questions about how Naim died, what happened to him before his death, and why there were injury marks on his body.

Naim's family has demanded that if he was beaten, those responsible must be brought to justice through a proper investigation. And if the claim of suicide is true, they also want an answer as to why a 12-year-old child would take such a step.