A court in Netrokona has sentenced madrasa teacher Aman Ullah Mahmudi to death for raping an 11-year-old student who later became pregnant. District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Abdus Salam, who serves as the judge of the Netrokona Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, announced the verdict on Wednesday afternoon.
Along with the death sentence, the court fined the accused Tk 1 lakh. The court also directed the state to bear full responsibility for the maintenance, education, and upbringing of the child born from the rape.
Court's Observations
In its observations explaining the reasons for the death sentence, the court stated, "The accused, being a religious teacher and mosque imam, has grossly abused his sacred duty and authority. Such a heinous crime against an innocent and helpless 11-year-old child is in no way pardonable."
The court also provided observations on what measures should be taken to prevent sexual harassment of children in residential and non-residential educational institutions. The court noted that as a religious teacher, the accused's duty was to protect children, but he instead committed the most severe abuse of that sacred responsibility.
Case Background
Aman Ullah Mahmudi, a teacher at a madrasa in Netrokona, raped the 11-year-old student, who subsequently became pregnant. A case was filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, and after investigation, a charge sheet was submitted to the court.
Based on the proven charges, the judge handed down the maximum penalty. Additional police were deployed in and around the court premises during the verdict announcement to maintain law and order.
