A madrasa student was reportedly beaten and a cap placed forcibly in his mouth for not offering Sunnah as part of his Zuhr prayers.
Sabbir Hossain Nasir, 12, a student of the Hifz division at a madrasa, is now undergoing treatment at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital following the beating.
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at the At-Taqwa Was-sunnah Hifz Madrasa in the Lichutala area of Panchagarh district.
The student and his family have accused the madrasa director, Hafiz Muhammad Asaduzzaman Asad, of subjecting the boy to inhumane torture. The child’s body bears marks of the abuse. Since the incident, Asaduzzaman Asad has been absconding.
On Thursday afternoon, the student’s father, Belal Hossain, filed a complaint at Panchagarh Sadar Police Station, naming Asaduzzaman Asad, three other teachers, and 4 to 5 unidentified individuals as the accused. The family resides in Baleyapara village under Panchagarh Sadar Upazila.
The victim’s family alleges that Nasir had been enrolled in the madrasa three months ago. Within a few days of admission, he was subjected to physical abuse and returned home.
However, his parents persuaded him to go back to the madrasa to complete his Hifz (Quran memorisation).
On Wednesday afternoon, after Zuhr prayers, the madrasa director, Asaduzzaman Asad, allegedly beat Nasir severely, forcing a cap into his mouth as punishment for not offering the Sunnah.
The child is now in the hospital, writhing in pain from the injuries all over his body.
Nasir said, “Asad Huzur started beating me because I didn’t offer the Sunnah. When I screamed, he put his prayer cap into my mouth and continued beating me. Some students held my hands, and he kept hitting me in different parts of my body. The way he forced the cap into my mouth, I almost died. I started bleeding from my throat.”
The child’s father, Belal Hossain, said, “My son has been abused before, but the way he was beaten with a cap forced into his mouth beyond description. No sane person could treat a child like this. They tried to kill my son, but he barely survived. Now, Asad Huzur is threatening us. We demand justice.”
None of the madrasa authorities agreed to comment on the incident.
Panchagarh Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Hil Jamal stated that the child’s father has filed a complaint regarding the abuse. The case is currently under investigation, and necessary actions will be taken based on the investigation.
