Noakhali madrasa torched after teacher ‘elopes’ with 12-year-old student

A madrasa in Noakhali’s Subarnachar Upazila has been set on fire following allegations that its head teacher had fled with a 12-year-old student.

The arson took place around midnight on Tuesday at the Syed Munshi Bari Madrasa in North Char Hasan village, said Mohammad Abu Kawsar, chairman of the Char Jabbar Union Parishad.

Char Jabbar Police chief Lutfur Rahman visited the scene on Wednesday afternoon after receiving reports of the incident.

The accused teacher, Mahmudul Hasan, 35, is a resident of Pirojpur district and served as the head teacher of the madrasa. Police and locals said the girl is a former student of the institution and is now a sixth-grader at another madrasa.

During her time at Syed Munshi Bari Madrasa, Mahmudul allegedly developed a romantic interest for the student. On Jan 7, he fled with the girl, according to locals. Family members later recovered her and brought her back home.

Following the incident, the girl’s relatives locked the madrasa, which has remained closed for nearly a week, Kawsar said.

He said, around midnight on Tuesday, unidentified individuals set the building on fire. Police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. No casualties were reported as no students were present.

Officer Lutfur said the family had filed a written complaint with Sudharam Police. Legal action will be taken if a complaint is lodged over the arson, he added.