Munshiganj teacher suspended for cutting students' hair for not wearing hijab

There have been reports of a biology teacher cutting the hair of nine students for the "crime" of not wearing hijab.

The incident took place in the seventh-grade classroom of Syedpur Abdur Rahman School and College in Munshiganj's Sirajdikhan upazila on Wednesday (28 February).

The teacher, Rumia Sarker, has been suspended today (29 February), confirmed president of the management council of the school Engineer Golam Mahmud.

According to school sources and the parents of the students, Rumia Sarker was teaching science in the seventh grade of the school on Wednesday. At that time religious behavior was being discussed.

The teacher started discussing hijab and got angry at the nine students who were not wearing hijab in the class.

Seventh grade student Maisha Jahan said, "I had only one hijab. I washed that hijab because it was dirty. That's why I couldn't wear that. I was not spared even after requesting madam a lot, she cut our hair."

Md Kohinoor, father of one of the students said, "Religion should be practiced from the heart. Children made a mistake by not wearing hijab, but they could have been talked to. Instead of doing this, they cut some 2-3 inch hair of the nine children. That was highly inappropriate. The girls were crying a lot yesterday, didn't want to come to school."

Principal of the school Md Farid Ahmed said, "I heard that the teacher tried to scare the students with scissors for not wearing hijab. Maybe she also cut a bit of hair of the students. I can't really say for sure. The incident happened in the afternoon but I heard about it later. By then it was too late for me to reach there as the school had already closed.

"So far no student or parent has complained to me. Still we will take necessary action against the teacher."

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabbir Ahmed said a three-member investigation committee headed by the upazila secondary education officer has been formed to take measures. The committee has been asked to submit the investigation report within the next three working days.

As the teacher Rumia Sarker was appointed by the Non-Government Teachers Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA), the matter will also be reported to them, added the UNO.

Engineer Golam Mahmud, president of the management council of Abdur Rahman School and College, said that the matter is very concerning, an investigation committee has been formed, and legal action will be taken against the teacher involved.