Secret CCTV footage of child abuse at Dhaka school sparks criticism

A CCTV footage showing a child being beaten and intimidated inside a room of a school in Dhaka has gone viral on social media and sparked widespread criticism.

The CCTV footage, dated January 18, shows the owner of Sharmin Academy Mrs Sharmin, dragging a boy aged around four to five years into the officeroom in Nayapaltan. The child, in school uniform, is then taken before a man seated behind a desk, also believed to be the husband of Sharmin.

The video shows the woman repeatedly slapping and scolding the distressed child while seated on a sofa.

At one point, the man approaches with a stapler and threatens to staple the boy’s mouth.

The child is seen crying in fear, while the woman smiles during the incident.

The footage was shared on Facebook by Advocate Saleh Uddin, who described it as a “sample image” of how children are punished at the institution.

He urged parents to be cautious and called on authorities, including the Ministry of Education, to take immediate action.

Moniruzzaman, inspector (investigation) of Paltan Police Station, said police have spoken with the child’s family.

“However, the family did not agree to file any case or formal complaint immediately. They said they would decide after discussing the matter among family members,” he said.

“If an FIR is filed, a case will be registered.”

According to a 2011 Supreme Court judgment, corporal punishment in schools is a violation of children's constitutional rights. A Ministry of Education circular banned it in schools that year.