Sunamganj: At the Madrasa Den of Abuse, Teacher Given Light Punishment by Cutting His Hair

Local Correspondent

At Baitus Salam Noorani and Hafizia Madrasa, a residential madrasa in the Ukilpara area of Sunamganj town, teacher Maulana Abu Hujaifa was given only a nominal light punishment by cutting his hair despite multiple incidents of child abuse at the madrasa.

Due to the repeated occurrence of such heinous crimes, locals have labeled this madrasa as a “den of abuse.”

In one incident of abuse, the victim’s father filed a verbal complaint at the police station. However, other parents allege that the accused teacher fled with the help of the madrasa superintendent.

The parents of the victimized children said that Maulana Abu Hujaifa, a teacher at the residential madrasa in Sunamganj town, was in charge of the hostel. Since January, this teacher from Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet has been serving as the hostel superintendent. During this time, he sexually abused several young residential students.

Even during the holy month of Ramadan, he abused multiple students. Although the children complained to their parents, they kept quiet out of fear for their honor. Some parents even complained to the madrasa superintendent, Maulana Salah Uddin, but he ignored them. Instead, he allegedly threatened other parents.

Two days ago, the madrasa declared an Eid vacation. When the children returned home and revealed the incidents, some parents became furious. One parent from Hasannagar in the town filed a complaint, but the madrasa superintendent, Maulana Salah Uddin, allegedly threatened him. He warned that if the matter was escalated further, he would have the parent “disciplined” by hardline supporters.

Meanwhile, when a local journalist investigated the matter, the superintendent was forced to admit the truth. To avoid accountability, he claimed that the accused teacher, Maulana Hujaifa, had been punished by having his hair cut and expelled from the madrasa. The superintendent sent a video of the light punishment to the parents to settle the matter.

There are also allegations that the owner of the residential madrasa building is trying to protect the accused teacher.

The superintendent, Salah Uddin, a resident of Mathurkandi village in Bishwambharpur upazila, admitted to the abuse and said, “The teacher had been committing such acts since before Ramadan. This Hafizia and Noorani madrasa was established in 2011. Our institution’s officials have dismissed Hujaifa. The building owner is also aware of the matter.”

“Hujaifa has now gone into hiding after switching off his phone. I had his hair cut as punishment. After the matter became public, he fled,” said the superintendent.

Mohammad Abul Kalam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Model Police Station, said, “We are aware of the abuse allegations. However, no written complaint has been filed yet. We will investigate and take action.”