A Class 3 student remained trapped inside a school toilet for several hours after school in Meherpur town, triggering concern and anger among locals.
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at BM Model Government Primary School.
According to reports, the school closed at 4:00pm. Teachers and staff locked the building and the main gate before leaving. At that time, the student, Sadia, remained inside the toilet and got locked in.
She shouted and cried for a long time but received no response, leaving her terrified.
Her cries later reached passersby near the school, bringing the matter to light. When she did not return home on time, her father, Monirul Islam, a resident of the Old Post Office area, came searching for her.
With help from locals, the main gate of the school was opened and they entered the premises. However, they could not immediately rescue her as the collapsible gate of the building remained locked.
Locals then called a teacher at the school, Lina Bhattacharya, to the scene. After nearly an hour of anxiety, Sadia was finally rescued in her presence.
Witnesses said the child appeared traumatised at the time of rescue.
The incident came to wider attention around 11:30pm. Journalists tried to contact the school through its official phone number, but calls were repeatedly cut. No response came despite several attempts.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, Meherpur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khairul Islam visited the spot around midnight. He spoke to locals and gathered preliminary information. He also tried to contact the head teacher but received no response.
“The girl was rescued in a healthy condition, which is a relief. However, we will take the matter seriously. We will speak to teachers and guardians on Thursday,” the UNO said.
The incident has sparked strong anger among guardians and locals over the negligence of the school authorities. Questions have arisen about how the building was locked without checking classrooms and toilets before closing.
