Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) today expressed deep outrage and grave concern over the rising incidents of sexual violence against children in madrasas, demanding immediate formation of sexual harassment committees in the institutions.
The rights body’s demand follows a harrowing incident in Netrokona’s Madan upazila, where an 11-year-old student was allegedly raped and impregnated by her madrasa teacher.
MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam said, "Madrasas are educational institutions. There is no reason for these to stay outside the ambit of the High Court ruling."
According to data from Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, 1,028 women and girls were subjected to various forms of violence, including sexual violence, in the first four months of this year. Of them, 479 were girls.
In the Netrokona case, the First Information Report (FIR) alleges that a madrasa teacher sexually abused the child multiple times since October last year. The case surfaced on April 18 after medical tests confirmed advanced pregnancy.
The accused has been detained by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), though he reportedly denied the allegations on social media.
In a separate incident, a madrasa teacher in Patuakhali was recently jailed over the alleged sexual abuse of a 10-year-old student.
MJF noted that although the High Court in 2009 issued a landmark judgment -- reiterated for all educational institutions in 2023 -- to form committees to prevent sexual harassment, many madrasas have remained outside the effective implementation of the directive.
"Such cases are often suppressed due to the influence of perpetrators within local communities. It is time to break the silence and ensure accountability," MJF said in the statement.
The organisation called for the full enforcement of the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain (Women and Children Repression Prevention Act), 2000, and swift justice for victims.
It urged the government to ensure immediate implementation of the HC directives and expedite the enactment of the sexual harassment prevention law, which is currently pending in parliament.
MJF added that both the state and society have a shared responsibility to ensure child safety, warning that current failures are putting children at continued risk.
