Fellows protest rape attempt on fifth grader

Protesting the alleged rape attempt on a fifth grader girl by her school teacher, fellow students demonstrated at Dhupaghat village in Gafargaon upazila of Mymesningh yesterday.

The students of Dhupaghat Government Primary School blocked Gafargaon-Bhaluka road for two hours in the morning demanding arrest and exemplary punishment of the culprit.

Joined by locals, they also formed a human chain in front of the school.

The accused, Zillur Rahman Shamim, 36, a teacher of the school, allegedly attempted to rape the 10-year-old girl, daughter of an ailing farmer, on Sunday.

During the recess at noon, the teacher, also a resident of Dhupaghat, called the girl to an empty room of the school, saying that he would teach her mathematics.

“But when the girl went to the room, the teacher closed its door and attempted to rape her,” school headmaster Rabeya Parvin quoted the girl as saying.

“Hearing her screams, other teachers and a school peon rushed to the spot and rescued the girl. But the culprit managed to flee and he went into hiding,” said the headmaster.

Salma Akter, Gafargaon upazila education officer (acting), said a three-member probe committee headed by her visited the school yesterday and their primary investigation found the allegation true.

“I have placed the findings to the higher authorities this afternoon and the teacher has been suspended temporarily. A departmental case will also be filed against him,” said the official.

Kazi Mahbubur Rahman, upazila nirbahi officer of Gafargaon, said he has been monitoring the matter and departmental action will be taken if the teacher is found guilty.

The victim’s father lodged a case accusing the teacher, said Anukul Sarker, officer-in-charge of Gafargaon Police Station.