DHAKA, Jan 23, 2026 (BSS) - Police arrested a man on charges of physically 
and mentally abusing a four-year-old student of a kindergarten named Sharmin 
Academy in the Nayapaltan area of the capital.

The arrested person was identified as Pabitra Kumar Barua (47), the manager 
of the school, according to a release issued by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police 
(DMP).

According to Paltan Model Police Station sources, police arrested Barua in a 
raid conducted around 4:30 am on Friday in the Mirpur-6 area.

On January 18, at around 11:20 am, the child's mother dropped him off at the 
school. When she returned at noon to pick him up, she found the child being 
forcibly kept inside an office room by the school's principal Sharmin Jahan, 
while her husband Pabitra Kumar Barua, who also serves as the school's 
manager, was present.

The child was found frightened and crying. After returning home, the child 
told his family that he had been beaten and was threatened with serious 
consequences if the matter was disclosed to his parents.

Police said the school authorities later refused to show CCTV footage. 
However, footage collected with the help of local residents showed the child 
being taken into the office room and subjected to physical abuse.

Following the incident, the child complained of pain in his head, neck, and 
ears. He was first taken to Islami Bank Hospital in Nayapaltan and later to 
Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

On January 22, based on a complaint filed by the victim's mother, a case was 
lodged under the relevant law with Paltan Model Police Station, naming 
Sharmin Academy Principal Sharmin Jahan and her husband Pabitra Kumar Barua 
as accused.

Police later arrested Barua from Mirpur-6 on January 23, the sources said.