Madrasah teacher jailed until death for raping six students in Ctg

A Chattogram court today (4 June) sentenced a madrasah teacher to jail until death for the rape of six minor students and sexually assaulting them multiple times in the city.

The convicted individual, Nazim Uddin, 41, served as the director and teacher of Rahmania Tahfizul Quran Academy, located in an alley near Makkah Hotel in Chattogram's Panchlaish area.

Judge Ferdous Ara of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7 delivered the verdict and imposed a fine of Tk5,00,000 on the convict, the tribunal's bench assistant, Kafil Uddin told The Business Standard.

"The court framed charges against Nazim on 4 November 2021, following the submission of the charge sheet," he said.

"The prosecution presented 11 witnesses, while the defence provided two witnesses. After hearing testimonies and arguments, the court delivered its verdict under Section 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000," he added.

Hailing from Purba Dhurung village in Fatikchhari Upazila, Chattogram, Nazim was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting six students multiple times between 15 August 2019 and 1 March 2021, Kafil said. "Nazim confessed to the crimes in court."

The case came to light on 4 March 2021, when the elder brother of one victim filed a case with Panchlaish Police Station, leading to Nazim's arrest

During the investigation, five other students reported similar abuses and rape.

The charge sheet submitted by the police detailed specific incidents, including the rape of a 12-year-old student on 23 February 2019, a 13-year-old on 18 February 2020, and other victims aged 11 to 16 between 15 August 2019, and 16 December 2020.

The charge sheet further noted that Nazim physically assaulted the victims to prevent them from reporting the rape incidents to their parents.