According to a delayed report from the remote village, one of the victims filed a case against the teacher with Hatibandha Police Station on March 21. Since then Haq has been on the run.

The complainant told the police 13 of them lived in two rooms of the three-room Lillah Boarding adjacent to the madrasa. Haq, who occupied the third room as the caretaker, used to abuse them sexually.

The immoral conduct of the teacher first came to public knowledge when a resident student had an abortion early this month.

Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Zakir Hossain who investigated the incident said the victim, a student of Class IX, was a hapless orphan. The rapist teacher delayed filing of the case by pledging to marry her, he added.

The police officer said there were allegations that nine students had suffered rape by Haq. But, his investigations found four of them as raped, with two of them including the complainant forced to have abortions.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Joytirmoy Borman, who is the president of the madrasa managing committee, said Haq was suspended following the allegations.