An assistant teacher at a government primary school in Gangachara upazila, Rangpur, has been accused of sexually harassing a fifth-grade student. He has been suspended over the incident. When the accused teacher came to the school Wednesday morning, guardians tried to detain him, but he fled.
Angry guardians and local residents then confined the school’s head teacher and other teachers to the office room. When news of this reached Upazila Education Officer Shaila Jesmin Saeed, she went to the school with teacher leaders and was blockaded there as well. The standoff continued from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Everyone at the school, including the education officer, was later escorted out under police guard.
At the scene, local residents were seen chanting slogans outside the school demanding punishment for the accused teacher, while police officers remained stationed to control the situation.
Local residents said the teacher was accused of inappropriate conduct toward a student during class on Aug. 31. The student later went home and told her guardians. The teacher did not come to school after that. When he arrived Wednesday morning, an attempt was made to detain him, and he eventually fled.
The student’s father then submitted a written sexual harassment complaint against the teacher to the upazila education officer, who had come to the scene. The teacher was immediately suspended afterward.
Several other students at the school have also accused the teacher of inappropriate conduct. They said his behavior made girl students feel uncomfortable, and they demanded punishment for the accused teacher.
Several guardians alleged that the teacher had previously faced accusations of sexually harassing children while posted at two other schools.
Bakul Mia, panel chairman of Gajghonta Union Parishad, said, “When I heard the news and went to the school, I found the upazila education officer and everyone else being held there. We later persuaded everyone and had them escorted out under police guard. I have also heard about earlier accusations of the teacher sexually harassing children at two schools. If the investigation finds these true, steps should be taken to ensure he can never return to the teaching profession.”
Attempts to reach the accused teacher for comment were unsuccessful. Local residents said he has remained at large since the accusation surfaced.
The school’s head teacher said, “I never imagined this teacher of mine would do something like this. After learning about it, I informed the upazila education officials.”
Upazila Education Officer Shaila Jesmin Saeed said the girl’s father had submitted a written complaint, and that necessary action would be taken based on an investigation into the allegation.
Rangpur District Primary Education Officer A.M. Shahjahan Siddique said the teacher had been suspended in light of the situation, and that departmental action would follow an investigation.
Gangachara Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdus Sabur said the upazila education office called to report that people were being confined at the school, after which police were sent to rescue them.