A Faridpur court on Thursday sentenced the director of a local madrasa to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for attempting to rape a female student.
Judge Shamima Parveen of the Faridpur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal also fined the convict, Md Ashraf Ali, 46, Tk70,000.
The court ordered the Faridpur deputy commissioner to realise the fine by selling the convict’s movable and immovable property and hand the proceeds to the victim’s family.
Ashraf Ali, director of Rowjatun-Nesa Mohila Madrasa in the city’s South Goalchamot area, was absent when the verdict was delivered. He has been absconding since the case reached the final argument stage, prompting the court to issue a fresh arrest warrant against him.
According to the prosecution, the victim was a residential student in the madrasa’s Hifzkhana section.
On 23 April 23, at around 5:30pm, Ashraf allegedly called the student from her classroom to his residence inside the madrasa compound. Taking advantage of the absence of his wife and children, he attempted to rape her. The girl managed to escape and later informed her parents about the incident.
The victim’s father filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with Faridpur Kotwali Police Station on 9 April, 17 days after the incident, after a local mediation attempt failed.
Police initially arrested Ashraf, but he was later released and subsequently went into hiding.
Sub-Inspector Md Nur Hossain of Faridpur Kotwali Police Station submitted the charge sheet against Ashraf on 31 August, 2025, naming him as the sole accused.
Public Prosecutor Golam Rabbani Bhuiyan confirmed the court’s order regarding the fine and the fresh arrest warrant.
The victim’s family expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
