Rape and sexual abuse of children in madrasahs – Islamic educational institutions where students study the Quran and other religious subjects, often alongside general education – are not isolated incidents that can be dismissed or quietly settled.
Recent cases involving both minor boys and girls have exposed a disturbing reality: Children entrusted to religious institutions can become victims of the very people responsible for their care. Yet speaking openly about sexual abuse in religious institutions remains taboo, allowing fear, stigma and misplaced concerns about reputation to stand in the way of justice.
According to media reports, at least six incidents of alleged sexual abuse involving madrasah students were reported in Gazipur, Savar, Kushtia and Pabna between 8 October and 23 October. The alleged victims included children as young as seven. In several cases, the accused reportedly threatened the children to stop them from speaking out. The incidents sparked public protests, attacks on accused teachers and vandalism at some institutions.
Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad has described the alleged abuse as deeply distressing and shameful, pledging preventive measures. He has urged imams to address permissible and forbidden conduct under Islamic teachings during Friday sermons. He also said the prime minister was aware of the incidents and had issued instructions to prevent such abuse.
The minister's comments and warnings are welcome and commendable. But these assurances must translate into action. Public outrage, arrests and warnings may prompt a response to individual cases, but preventing abuse requires effective safeguards in every institution and a system that allows children to report incidents without fear.
The first step is to break the taboo around discussing sexual abuse in religious educational institutions. Protecting children is a moral obligation, and no institution should be shielded from scrutiny because of its religious identity. Silence protects neither religion nor its institutions; it can instead protect abusers.
Religious leaders have a responsibility to make this message clear. Imams and respected scholars should condemn sexual violence and intimidation in their sermons, urge families to listen to children and tell victims they will not be blamed for speaking out. They should also reject attempts to settle serious allegations privately to protect an institution's reputation.
The government and madrasah education authorities must establish a clear, enforceable child-protection system. Every madrasah should have a written safeguarding policy, a designated child-protection officer and a confidential reporting channel independent of the accused teacher or institution's management. Residential madrasahs need particular scrutiny because children live away from their families and depend heavily on staff.
A national hotline and simple online reporting system should allow children, parents and staff to report suspected abuse. Complaints involving possible crimes must be referred promptly to police and child-protection services. Authorities should assess immediate risks, protect children from retaliation, preserve evidence and provide access to medical care, counselling and legal assistance. The child's identity must remain confidential.
Regular inspections, background checks for staff, clear codes of conduct and age-appropriate lessons on personal safety should be mandatory. Madrasah boards and oversight bodies must monitor compliance and impose administrative sanctions on institutions that fail to protect children or obstruct investigations. The government should also ensure that applicable legal safeguards and sexual-harassment prevention requirements are enforced in educational institutions, including madrasahs.
Finally, allegations must be investigated fairly and promptly, and those found guilty must face the full penalty prescribed by law. Accusations must not be treated as proof of guilt, but neither should influential teachers or institutions be allowed to suppress complaints.
The real test of the minister's assurances will be whether children can report abuse safely, complaints trigger immediate action and perpetrators are held accountable.