Rumi now says, 'why would I leave the country?'

Shahjalal Rumi changed his statement. One day after announcing that he was leaving the country, he said, "Why would I flee?"

Rumi, the father of the child who was sexually abused at a madrasa in Tongi, is a well-known figure across the country. He came into the spotlight after slapping a teacher who was facing allegations.

Following the filing of a case in that incident, Rumi told Agamir Somoy on Monday, "I am no longer in this country. I'm not thinking about these things anymore. Whatever happens, happens. Stay well, all of you."

Agamir Somoy had spoken with him via WhatsApp. When contacted again today, Tuesday, he said, "I have not committed any crime. Why would I flee? Why would I go abroad?"

When asked why he had said the previous day that he was leaving the country, Rumi disconnected the phone call without answering. After that, no response was received even after sending text messages.

Rumi is not providing any information about his whereabouts.

The house in the Auchpara area of Tongi where Rumi's family lived is now locked.

The caretaker of the house, Md. Habibur Rahman, said that the child's family left the house on Friday.

They lived in flat No. 6/B of that building. Shahjalal Rumi used to come there occasionally. Rumi lives in Dhaka with his second wife and family.

On October 21, allegations of sexual abuse were raised against Rumi's 7-year-old child at Qariul Quran International Cadet Madrasa in the Auchpara area of Tongi.

In this incident, Shahjalal Rumi beat up the madrasa teacher Md. Moslem Uddin. Later, the teacher was handed over to the police.

When a video of the incident spread on social media, it sparked widespread discussion and criticism across the country.

Immediately after the incident, Shahjalal Rumi filed a case alleging sexual abuse at Tongi West Police Station as the complainant. Subsequently, a counter-case was filed by the principal of the madrasa naming Rumi as an accused. That case included allegations of beating and the theft of 1.7 million taka.

Since the filing of this counter-case, Shahjalal Rumi has essentially gone into hiding.