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to clean his room. As soon as she entered the room, he raped her.
The FIR further said that when the child cried out, he threatened to beat her and expel her from the madrasa.
The child was allegedly raped on four or five more occasions in a room adjacent to the mosque’s veranda and also in classrooms, the FIR read.
On April 18, when the mother suddenly noticed physical changes in the child, she took her to a local diagnostic centre for a check-up. There, the doctor discovered that the child was in her third term of pregnancy.
Madan Police Station’s Sub-Inspector Akhtaruzzaman, who is also the investigation officer in the case, said, “After the child was examined, the family filed a case against the teacher. Police also officially conducted another examination at the Netrokona 250-Bed Hospital and reconfirmed the pregnancy.”
He added that police conducted raids at various locations until 3:00am on Monday, and the drive to arrest the accused is still on.
Meanwhile, the video of accused Sagor protesting his innocence has been widely circulated on social media since yesterday morning.
In the 5.4-minute video, he said, “What has gone viral about me on social media and has been published in various newspapers and television channels -- I am in no way involved in what is being alleged against me using my photo. I have no knowledge of this matter at all.
“ ... If I am falsely accused and labeled as the offender even before the investigation, the real criminal will escape punishment. If necessary, a [DNA] test should be done to identify the actual father of this child.”
Sagor could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts, as his phone was found switched off.
Speaking to The Daily Star yesterday, the victim’s mother alleged that when she went to the accused’s family seeking justice before filing a case, they instead verbally abused her and threatened to force the family out of the area if a case was filed. “His family and local elders even tried arbitration and offered a settlement of Tk 2.20 lakh. But we refused and filed the case.”
DOCTOR GETTING THREATS
In another development, Dr Saima Akhtar, who conducted the tests on the child and discovered the pregnancy, is reportedly being harassed in various ways, including receiving rape threats.
During a Facebook live yesterday, she said, “Since I gave a statement to a private television channel about this matter two days ago, I have been harassed in various ways. I’m being cyberbullied…. It has become unbearable and I am traumatised. People are demanding my certificates and documents related to my medical practice. I am also being threatened with rape and career destruction… I don’t know what I will do… I have even had harmful thoughts about dying [by suicide].”
Contacted, Md Tariqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Madan Police Station, said they hoped to arrest the accused soon.
“We have seen the video of the accused on social media and have sent the link and other information to the relevant authorities to help detect his whereabouts. We have also seen the doctor’s video where she said she was being threatened. I personally contacted her and told her we were ready to offer due protection. I even told her she can come to the station to file a complaint if she feels it necessary.”