Maktab teacher jailed seven years for sexually assaulting a child in Faridpur
A court in Faridpur has sentenced maktab teacher Ariful Islam, 26, to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old child. He was also fined 50,000 taka, with an additional year of rigorous imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
Judge Shamima Parvin of the Faridpur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal announced the verdict at around 1:30 pm on Sunday (8 November). After the verdict, Ariful Islam was taken to jail under police escort.
The convict is the son of Md Khabir Mollah of Bhaowal village in Salta upazila of Faridpur. He worked as an imam at a mosque in Ramnagar union of Nagarkanda upazila, and taught children religious lessons at the mosque's maktab in the mornings.
According to court sources, it was raining on the morning of 5 October 2024, so Ariful did not call the children over the microphone. The victimised child nevertheless came to the mosque. As no other child had yet arrived, Ariful found the child alone and sexually assaulted her.
The child managed to open the door, ran out, and told her family what had happened. Family members and local people then went to the mosque, detained Ariful Islam, and informed the police. Police from Nagarkanda station arrived and took him into custody.
The child's mother filed a case at Nagarkanda police station the same day under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. Police showed him arrested in the case and sent him to jail through the court.
Sub-Inspector Shahidul Islam, the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the court on 17 November the same year. The trial concluded with Sunday's verdict.
Confirming the verdict, public prosecutor Golam Rabbani Bhuiya Ratan said the prosecution is satisfied with the judgment. He said the verdict would help reduce such crimes in society to some extent.
