Tongi Child Abuse Allegation: Madrasa Vice-Principal Denied Bail, to Stay in Jail

A court has rejected the bail petition of Moslem Uddin, vice-principal of a madrasa arrested in Tongi, Gazipur, over the alleged sexual abuse of a seven-year-old child. He will therefore have to remain in jail. This is the latest court decision in the widely discussed case.

On Sunday, the Gazipur Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court rejected his bail petition after a hearing. Ahsanullah Chowdhury, inspector of the Gazipur metropolitan court, confirmed the information.

According to the case allegations, Moslem Uddin was accused of sexually abusing a first-grade student of Qariul Quran International Madrasa in the Madhya Auchpara area of Tongi. He was shown arrested in a case filed by the child's father under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and was produced in court on Thursday.

The child's statement was recorded before a judge on the same day. A child's statement is considered important testimony in such cases, although further testimony and evidence still remain to be examined in the full trial process.

Md Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury, court inspector of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said various evidence including CCTV footage had been collected from the madrasa for the investigation. After visiting the scene and reviewing statements from people concerned, the allegation of sexual abuse was found to have primary truth. The investigation, however, is still ongoing.

Last Wednesday, the child's father went to the madrasa and asked the accused teacher for an explanation. At one stage, the teacher was beaten. On receiving the news, police rescued him and took him into custody.

When a video of the incident spread on social media, it created widespread discussion and criticism. Within that discussion, both the demand for justice through legal process and criticism of taking the law into one's own hands came to the fore.

On the other hand, the madrasa authorities alleged an attack on the madrasa, vandalism, beating of teachers and looting of Tk 17 lakh and five mobile phones. A separate case was filed on those allegations against the child's father and those who were with him.

The child's father, however, denied those allegations. He claimed he went to the madrasa only to seek justice for what happened to his daughter, not to attack or loot. He demanded security for himself and his family, a neutral investigation into the allegations, and fair justice for the alleged abuse of his daughter.

Tongi West Police Station said investigations are under way in the two separate cases — the child sexual abuse allegation and the attack and vandalism at the madrasa. Reports will be submitted to the court after the investigations end.

With bail denied, vice-principal Moslem Uddin must remain in jail for now, and attention turns to the submission of investigation reports in the two separate cases. The child's family remains firm on its demand for fair justice, while the madrasa authorities also want their counter-allegations investigated — the resolution of both claims now rests with the investigation and the court.