Bagerhat, Nov 09 (V7N) — Villagers in Bagerhat’s Morelganj upazila staged a human chain on Sunday, protesting the death of an 11-year-old student who allegedly died after being beaten by her religious teacher. The demonstration took place in front of the local maktab (religious school) at Khawlia village in Madhya Morelganj, where the incident reportedly occurred.

The protest was attended by the victim’s parents and more than a hundred residents of the area. They demanded the immediate arrest of the accused teacher and exemplary punishment through a fair judicial process.

According to local residents and court records, on October 24, 2024, student Nusrat Khatun went to her maktab around 6 a.m. for her daily Qur’an lessons. On that day, her teacher, identified as Md. Mamun Sheikh, allegedly struck her with a cricket stump as a form of punishment. The blow caused severe internal injuries to her left leg above the knee, which later developed into a cancerous condition, according to her family.

Nusrat was treated at several hospitals, including the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in Mohakhali and Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Despite months of medical care, she passed away on July 29, 2025, while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital.

Dalia Akter, Acting Head Teacher of Khawlia Government Primary School, where Nusrat completed her fifth-grade studies in 2024, said the incident was deeply tragic. “She was a bright student who attended the maktab in the mornings. Her death after prolonged illness is heartbreaking. We urge a proper investigation and justice for her,” she said.

Nishikanta Sarker, Investigation Officer of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Bagerhat, confirmed that a case filed by Nusrat’s mother, Sahida Begum, is under investigation. “We have requested medical reports from the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in Dhaka to verify the cause of her illness. The investigation report will be submitted once we receive the documents,” he said.

Meanwhile, the accused teacher, Mamun Sheikh, denied the allegations, claiming they were false. “I am a maktab teacher, but I did not beat the student. The accusations against me are fabricated,” he told reporters.

Locals have urged the authorities to ensure justice for the young girl and to establish strict monitoring of all local maktabs to prevent such incidents in the future.

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