Students, teachers and local residents have called for a fair investigation into allegations of sexual harassment involving two students.
A group of students, teachers and local residents formed a human chain in Rajapur, Jhalokathi, on Saturday, October 10, in support of a madrasa headteacher accused of sexually harassing two students. They rejected the allegations as false and demanded an impartial investigation into the incident.
The programme began at around 11:30 am on the grounds of Paschim Indrapasha Mohammadia Darul Arkam Ebtedayi Madrasa. Local residents organised the human chain and a protest march to express their support for Maulana Abul Hashem, who also serves as the imam of Dargabari Jame Mosque.
Protesters Call for Fair Investigation
Several speakers at the programme said the allegations were baseless and described them as part of a deliberate smear campaign against the headteacher. They urged the relevant authorities to establish the facts through a fair and impartial investigation.
Among those who spoke were the madrasa’s assistant teacher Ibrahim and local residents Bellal Fakir, Shah Alam Fakir, Ripon Fakir, Mitu, Jhumur, Jabbar Talukdar, 60, Majid Fakir and Sharmin, along with others.
The speakers also called for Abul Hashem’s dignified reinstatement at his workplace if an investigation found the allegations to be false. They said his social standing should be protected if the claims were not substantiated.
Students’ Families Make Allegations
The two students and their families, however, alleged that the headteacher had engaged in sexually harassing behaviour while teaching them Arabic and religious studies in the morning.
According to the families, the students stopped attending the madrasa after the alleged incident and informed their guardians. Their guardians later shared details of the matter with the president of Dargabari Jame Mosque.
The allegations have not been independently verified based on the information available for this report. The claims made by the families and the statements made by supporters of the headteacher remain distinct accounts of the incident.
Mosque President Says Committee Was Asked to Look Into Matter
Jahidul Islam, president of Dargabari Jame Mosque, said he asked the madrasa committee to look into the matter after being informed about it.
He also said that after the incident became public, Abul Hashem left the area without informing anyone and went into hiding.
Attempts to obtain a statement from the headteacher were unsuccessful. He could not be reached for comment while he was reportedly in hiding.
The matter has prompted calls from both sides for attention to the allegations and the headteacher’s reputation. A fair investigation will be important to establish the facts and determine the appropriate next steps.
