Teacher jailed for molesting girl student

A schoolteacher was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday after he was found guilty of molesting a female student at a school in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna.

The authorities also closed the Choruikola High School for the day in the face of demonstrations by the locals.

The teacher, Rafiqul Islam, 45, son of Mohammed Ali of Katakhali village in the same upazila, teaches English at the school.

Police, quoting locals, said Rafiqul molested a class-VIII female student in a classroom on Tuesday. As the news spread yesterday afternoon, angry locals gathered near the school and started demonstration, demanding his punishment.

Locals alleged that the teacher harassed other girls before.

On information, Mizanur Rahman, acting upazila nirbahi officer, went to scene. The situation was brought under control after he assured the villagers of taking steps against the culprit.

Later, Rafiqul was detained from the school and produced before a mobile court, said Subrata Kumar, officer-in-charge of Chatmohar police.

The mobile court, led by Mizanur Rahman, who is also the assistant commissioner (land) in Pabna, awarded the accused one year's imprisonment.

Rafiqul was also fined Tk 1 lakh, in default of which he would have to stay three more months in jail, said the police official.

The AC land said they took the action on the basis of a written complaint against the teacher by the victim's family.

Mizanur said they found “evidences” against Rafiqul. He was found guilty also after several witnesses were contacted.

Headmaster Taposh Ranjan Tolapatra said they closed the school yesterday to avoid any untoward situation.

Rafiqul was suspended and further action would be taken against him after a meeting of the school's managing committee, he added.