St Scholastica’s Girls’ School: Case filed against 2 teachers over sexual harassment

Two teachers of St Scholastica's Girls' School and College in Chattogram city's Patharghata area have been sued for sexually abusing a fifth-grade schoolgirl for over a year.

The accused are Rakib Uddin, 35, who teaches fourth grade, and Surjit Pal, 33, who teaches fifth grade.

Of the duo, Rakib was detained last night for interrogation, confirmed Obaidul Haque, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent.

Earlier in the day, the 11-year-old victim's mother filed the case with Kotwali Police Station, said Atanu Chakraborty, assistant commissioner (Kotwali Zone) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police.

"We've accepted the case and received some screenshots of messages sent by the teachers to the victim as supporting evidence. We've launched an investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse brought against the teachers."

According to the case statement, the 11-year-old had been sexually abused by both teachers for more than a year.

Since 2023, the two teachers have sexually harassed and molested the girl on several occasions. Whenever she tried to resist them, they reprimanded her in class and threatened to fail her in exams.

The most recent incident of molestation occurred on Sunday, compelling the terrified girl to return home and inform her parents about the history of sexual abuse she has suffered at the hands of her teachers.

Some guardians told reporters that they had raised similar allegations of sexual harassment against others at the school with authorities verbally, but they were not addressed for fear of tarnishing the school's reputation.

Despite repeated attempts, the correspondent could not reach school Principal Shilpi Celine Costa and teacher Surjit Pal over the phone for comments on the matter.