Headteacher confined by locals over sexual harassment in Panchagarh

Locals confined a headteacher of a government primary school in his office for nearly five hours over allegations of harassing a female student in Panchagarh’s Boda upazila today.

Police later rescued the headteacher, Habibur Rahman, 58, and took him into custody at Boda Police Station, said Officer-in-Charge Soyel Rana.

The incident occurred between around 9:00am and 3:00pm at Benghari Sarkarpara Government Primary School in the upazila.

Later, the victim's father filed a case with Boda Police Station.

According to police and locals, a class 4 student came to the school in the morning to drop off her younger sister, a pre-primary student. The headteacher allegedly asked the girl to assist with supervising pre-primary students on the first floor of the school building.

After some time, the teacher also went there and touched her inappropriately, they said.

After returning home, the student told her mother about the incident, who then informed other family members.

Later, family members and locals went to the school and staged a protest. At one stage, agitated locals confined the headteacher to his room.

As news of the incident spread, a large number of people gathered on the school premises, chanting slogans and demanding punishment.

Police rushed to the scene upon receiving information and attempted to bring the situation under control. Additional forces later arrived and rescued the headteacher around 3:00pm, taking him into custody.

The victim’s mother alleged that her daughter was subjected to sexual harassment and demanded justice.

OC Soyel Rana said the accused has been taken into custody, and the victim’s father filed a case in this regard.

Boda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Robiul Islam said there was preliminary evidence supporting the allegation and noted that a similar complaint had been made against the teacher earlier.

Steps are being taken to suspend him and the victim’s family has been advised to pursue legal action, the UNO added.