AL leader held over 'molestation' of schoolgirl

An Awami League leader of the capital's Sabujhbagh was arrested after a class X student filed a case yesterday accusing him of molesting her in his Bashabo office on March 13.

General secretary of the party's ward 5 unit in the area, Masud Parvez Akanda, 45, is also a managing committee member of Kadamtola Purba Basabo School and College.

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The victim claimed that Masud called her to his office in the afternoon saying he wanted to discuss matters related to her examinations, Sabujhbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Kuddus Fakir told The Daily Star.

Once inside, he started molesting her and at one point she managed to escape, he said. The girl had failed in one or two subjects but passed class IX upon request from Masud, he added.

Students and locals formed a human chain in front of the school around 11:00am yesterday. They claimed Masud's men tried to stop the protest.

The principal and local AL leaders demanded punishment through a fair investigation.