Madrasa student found dead in Gopalganj; family allege rape by institution’s superintendent

Police have recovered the body of a female madrasa student in Gopalganj’s Muksudpur.

Family members of the 14-year-old victim allege she committed suicide “out of shame” after being raped by the superintendent of her madrasa, who was allegedly aided by one of the female teachers of the institution.

Angered by the news, villagers detained the superintendent of Ayesha Siddika Mohila Madrasa and beat him up on Wednesday, according to Muksudpur Police Station's Inspector Shital Chandra Paul.

The rape suspect, 51-year-old Mahmudul Hasan Shikder, was later rescued by police and sent to a local hospital for treatment.

Mahmudul is also the Imam of the local mosque. He comes from Chitalmari of Bagerhat.

Shital said the victim’s mother filed a complaint against Mahmudul and his alleged abettor, Khadiza Begum, on Wednesday.

The madrasa official had called the victim to sweep his room on Nov 26 and later raped her with the help of Khadiza, her mother alleged.

“My daughter spent hours sitting silent as she suffered, trying to conceal what had happened to her,” the mother said.

It was only on Wednesday that the victim finally shared the matter with her parents.

“My daughter had threatened to commit suicide after the matter became known to others. She took her own life out of shame,” the mother said.

“I lost my child and want the rapist’s capital punishment,” she said.

According to the victim's brother-in-law, Khadiza had also threatened the child's mother with her life if she disclosed the matter to anybody.

Inspector Shital said the victim died by suicide using her scarf.

Khadiza is currently on the run, according to police.