Bangladesh: Madrasa headmaster arrested for sexual harassing Class 7 student
The incident is said to have taken place on Friday afternoon at the madrasa in Savar's Kamalapur area in Bangladesh.
With a female undergraduate student of the government-run Fakir Mohan Autonomous College battling for life after attempting self-immolation—allegedly due to inaction on her sexual harassment complaint—Odisha Police on Monday arrested the college principal on charges of abetment to suicide.
As the controversy surrounding the disturbing incident refuses to subside, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has sought a detailed report from the state government on the circumstances that led the student to take such a drastic step. The Governor has also asked for an update on the steps taken in response to the incident.
Principal Dilip Ghosh was arrested for his alleged complicity, as he reportedly failed to report the matter to police, an act considered a punishable offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for suppressing a crime against a young woman. “After prima facie evidence was found against Ghosh, he has been placed under arrest and will be produced before the court,” a police official said.
Public pressure had been mounting for Ghosh’s arrest, with students and the victim’s family demanding accountability. Earlier, the state government had suspended him for allegedly suppressing the student’s complaint and failing to ensure justice.
The main accused, Assistant Professor Sameer Kumar Sahoo of the Education Department, was arrested on Saturday. He had allegedly demanded sexual favours from the victim and threatened to ruin her academic future. The victim attempted self-immolation by pouring petrol on herself in front of the principal’s office that same day.
The student, who suffered more than 90% burn injuries, remains in extremely critical condition and is currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
In a related development, Governor Kambhampati, responding to a request for intervention by Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, sought an official report on the incident, which has triggered statewide condemnation and public outrage.
“Spoke to Higher Education Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj (@suryabanshibjp) regarding the unfortunate incident involving the FM (Autonomous) College girl student. I sought details about the circumstances that led to the incident and the steps being taken to address the situation,” Governor Kambhampati said in a post on X.
This tragic episode has brought renewed attention to campus safety for women in higher education institutions and has dealt a blow to the image of the newly elected BJP government in Odisha, which is already facing criticism over a reported spike in crimes against women during its first year in office.
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