The High Court has said that all educational institutions in the country, including madrasas, have to conduct their academic activities in line with the constitution and prevalent laws.
The higher court also said that the education ministry, the departments concerned and the education boards can take appropriate legal action if the constitution and law are violated by any educational institution.
The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasn and Justice Shahed Nuruddin made the observations on Sunday after reviewing the reports submitted by Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chattogram on the child abuse case in Hathazari.
In its observations, the High Court said that incidents of physical, mental and even sexual torture are taking place in many madrasas. No student can be tortured physically or mentally as per the earlier directive of the higher court, informed Deputy Attorney General Barrister ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud.
According to him, the HC bench asked the authorities concerned to take care of studies of the eight-year old child student, who was tortured by his teacher Maulana Md Yahya at Markazul Islami Academy Hafezia Madrasa in Hathazari, so that it cannot be hampered in anyway.
ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud placed the reports before the HC bench on behalf of the Chattogram administration in line with the HC’s suo muto order.
The HC bench on Thursday wanted to know what legal action was taken about the brutal incident. The HC bench came up with the suo moto order after DAG Bashar placed some newspaper reports on the incident before the bench.
Presenting the reports to the court, the Deputy Attorney General said that the accused teacher has already been sacked permanently by the madrasa authorities. Necessary steps have been taken to ensure security of the victim and his family members, as well as his treatment.
He said, “The court has already given directions in this regard. Madrasah authorities have to be alert so that these directions are implemented appropriately.”
In the reports of local administration, it was said that the authorities concerned of the madrasa have been cautioned so that incidents like beating up students do not happen in future.
Meanwhile, necessary legal steps have been taken against Maulana Md Yahya. A case has been filed against him and he has been arrested, produced before a lower court and sent to jail in connection, they mentioned.
Earlier, on March 9, the teacher whipped the child student at the madrasa in Hathazari. Later, when the video of the torture went viral, there was widespread criticism.
According to the reports, the child’s parents, being extremely religious, had decided not to sue their child’s teacher because it looks indecent. Later, the police decided to file a case as a plaintiff.
