Child abuse at school: 'Miss said she would crush me underfoot and tear me apart'
The child collapsed into his mother's lap in tears upon reaching home. "Miss said she would crush me underfoot and tear me apart if I shared anything at home," he said.
The student, enrolled at Sharmin Academy in Dhaka just seven days ago, described the ordeal to his mother. She said her child has suffered severe psychological trauma since the incident.
"Even in sleep, my child wakes up crying, repeating, 'Don't sew my mouth shut. I haven't done anything. I don't want to stay here, Mum,'" the horrified mother told The Business Standard.
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The kid's father added that the child had endured fear, mental abuse, and physical harm under the guise of discipline at school. Noticing his distress, the parents immediately admitted him to hospital, where doctors confirmed significant psychological trauma.
Outraged, the parents filed a case under the Children's Act, 2013, demanding exemplary and maximum punishment for the persons involved.
A video of the abuse has gone viral on social media. Shared on Facebook by Advocate Saleh Uddin on Tuesday, the footage shows a woman, believed to be a teacher, in a pink saree dragging a 4-5 year-old boy in uniform into an office.
The child was taken before a man seated behind a desk, also reportedly a teacher. The CCTV footage, dated 18 January at 12:51pm, shows the woman repeatedly slapping and scolding the distressed boy while he sits on a sofa.
At one point, the man approaches, holding a stapler and threatening to staple the child's mouth, intensifying the atmosphere of fear. The sequence repeats several times, with the boy visibly terrified, while the woman is seen smirking, drawing sharp condemnation online.
Parents have criticised the school administration for negligence in safeguarding children's safety and mental wellbeing.
One, speaking anonymously, said, "The female teacher treated children harshly in the name of discipline. Her behaviour was unacceptable towards both students and parents."
Child rights organisations have also expressed concern, saying that punishing children in this manner is not only illegal but can cause long-term psychological harm.
Umme Salma Akter Urmi, organiser of non-profit Pother Ishkul and a child rights activist, said, "A child depends on us. Punishing them like this damages their mental health. Those responsible must first undergo counselling; if that fails, the law must be applied."
Sharmin Academy has not issued a formal statement. A visit on Thursday found the school empty, the main gate locked, with security unaware of any activity. The institution appears to have temporarily shut down.
No one responded when the reporter called the phone number listed on a Facebook page titled "Sharmin Academy."
Hossain Muhammad Farabi, assistant commissioner of Motijheel Zone, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Business Standard that the case was filed under Section 70 of the Children Act, naming Pabitra Barua and Sharmin Zaman as the accused.
