No student can be tortured, intimidated

The High Court yesterday observed that no student can be tortured, intimidated and pressurised physically or mentally as per an earlier directive of the court .

Madrasas and all the other educational institutions have to conduct academic activities in line with the constitution and relevant laws, it said.

If the laws and constitution are violated by an institution, the education ministry, directorate of education, and boards of madrasa and education boards can take appropriate legal action, the HC said.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice Shahed Nuruddin said this after going through compliance reports submitted by the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police in Chattogram over the legal steps taken after a madrasa student was recently tortured by a teacher in the district.

The HC said the eight-year-old student of Markazul Islami Academy Hafezia Madrasa, who was beaten up by his teacher Maulana Yahya, should be able to continue his academic activities.

The DC and SP of Chattogram submitted two separate reports to the HC stating that the madrasa authorities have been cautioned.

A case has been filed against Yahya under the Penal Code and Children Act and he has been arrested, taken to a lower court, and sent to jail, they mentioned.

Deputy Attorney General Abdullah-Al-Mahmud Bashar placed the reports before the HC bench in line with a suo moto (voluntary) order from Thursday.

Bashar told The Daily Star that necessary steps have been taken to ensure security of the victim and his family members, as well as his health treatment.

The bench on Thursday wanted to know what legal action was taken against Yahya for beating up the student.

The HC bench came up with the suo moto (voluntary) order after DAG Bashar placed some newspaper reports on the incident before the bench.

Video footage of the child being beaten by Yahya went viral on social media and shocked many.

Also yesterday, rights organisation Ain O Salsih Kendra (ASK) expressed concerns about the incidents of torture on children at madrasas.

ASK said establishing a neutral monitoring system at madrasas and other child education institutions was necessary.  And ensuring punishments of perpetrators will stop such incidents.

It is also necessary to train the teachers and employees of such institutions on the Children Act, International Child Rights Charter and relevant issues, ASK said in a statement.