Madrasa set on fire in Bangladesh on charges of sexually harassing a student, teacher arrested

POBNEWS24, DHAKA, Oct 23, 2026 : Police have arrested a teacher named Abu Yusuf on charges of attempting to rape a student (16) of a residential female madrasa in Bhandara Union of Pabna Sadar Upazila in North Bengal district of Bangladesh. Angry locals vandalized and set fire to the madrasa following the incident. The teacher’s house was also set on fire. Additional police have been deployed in the area to control the situation.
The incident took place at Noorani Madrasa located next to Padma Hospital in Darivaudanga area of ​​the union around 2:30 am on Thursday.
The arrested Abu Yusuf is a resident of Khalishpur village of Sadullahpur Union. He was in charge of managing and teaching the madrasa.
According to police and local sources, Abu Yusuf had been managing the madrasa in that area for more than five years. The madrasa also had residential facilities. He lived with his wife in the madrasa premises. It is said that he was alone in the madrasa as his wife had gone home on the day of the incident.
Allegedly, when a student of the Najera division went out late at night, teacher Abu Yusuf forcibly took her to a room and tried to rape her. At that time, the student came out and informed the locals about the matter. Tension arose in the area when the news spread.
Later, local people gathered at the madrasa, arrested the accused teacher and informed the police. At that time, considering the safety of other residential students of the madrasa, they were sent to their guardians.
Upon receiving the information, the police went to the spot, took the accused teacher into custody and took him to the police station. After a while, the angry people vandalized the madrasa and set it on fire.
Sultan Mahmud Khan, Chairman of Bhandara Union Parishad, said that after the incident, the agitated crowd set fire to the madrasa and the teacher’s house.
Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tariqul Islam said that immediately after receiving the information, the police went to the spot and arrested the accused teacher. The victim’s family is preparing to file a written complaint. Legal action will be taken in the incident. Additional police have been deployed in the area to control the situation after the vandalism and arson. Pabna Police Superintendent Abu Ashraf told reporters after visiting the scene that the accused teacher has been arrested and taken to the police station. Action will be taken against him as per the law. However, legal action will be taken against anyone who takes the law into their own hands over this incident. In addition, the victim has been taken to the hospital for a health check-up.