HC grants bail to father in viral Tongi madrasa assault case

The High Court on Tuesday granted four weeks’ interim bail to Shahjalal Rumi, who was sued after slapping a madrasa teacher accused of sexually abusing his seven-year-old daughter in Gazipur’s Tongi.

The court also directed Rumi to surrender before the Gazipur Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court within four weeks.

A bench comprising Justice Md Selim and Justice Md Asif Hasan passed the order, following an anticipatory bail petition filed on October 26.

Advocates Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Bellal Hossain and HM Ruhul Amin Mollah represented Rumi.

Bellal confirmed the order, saying they would decide their next legal steps after reviewing it.

The case sparked nationwide debate after a video showing Rumi slapping the teacher went viral on social media.

The controversy began when Rumi’s daughter, a student at Qariul Quran International Madrasa in Tongi’s Madhya Auchpara, allegedly told her family that vice-principal Moslem Uddin had sexually abused her.

Rumi subsequently confronted the teacher at the madrasa, where he slapped him.

A video showing Rumi slapping the teacher, who then fell to the ground during an altercation over the alleged sexual abuse of his daughter at the madrasa on October 21 went viral on social media.

The incident sparked widespread debate on social media, with some defending the father’s actions and others condemning the assault.

Police later arrested Moslem Uddin following a complaint filed by the child’s father. A Gazipur court sent him to jail on October 22, where he remains.

However, the madrasa authorities subsequently filed a counter-case against Rumi and 14 others, accusing them of assaulting teachers, vandalising the institution and stealing 17 lakh taka and five mobile phones.

Rumi denied the vandalism and theft allegations, saying he had gone to the madrasa to seek justice for his daughter, not to organise a mob attack.

He also alleged that his family had received death threats following the incident.