Child Abuse in Tongi
House locked, no one knows where Shahjalal Rumi is

Photo taken from in front of Shahjalal Rumi’s house. Photo: Agamir Somoy
Discussion has started anew after Agamir Somoy published an online report stating that Shahjalal Rumi, who came into the spotlight for slapping a teacher over allegations of sexual abuse of his seven-year-old child in Tongi, Gazipur, has left the country. Everyone now asking where is Rumi now?
The house in the Auchpara area of Tongi where Rumi's family members used to live is now under lock. According to the caretaker of the house, the family of the victim child left the house on Friday. However, it has not been possible to confirm where Shahjalal Rumi currently is.
This morning (Tuesday), a visit to flat No. 6/B of holding No. 74/1 at house No. 130 on Shafiuddin Academy Road in the Auchpara area of Tongi found it closed.
The caretaker of the house, Md. Habibur Rahman, said the child's family had left the house since Friday. They used to live in flat No. 6/B of that building. Shahjalal Rumi would come there occasionally. Rumi lives in Dhaka with his second wife and family. However, he has no information about where Rumi currently is.
When contacted by mobile phone, Shahjalal Rumi's father-in-law, Alhaj Mokarram Ali, said he does not know whether Rumi is in the country or abroad. They too have currently left that house and are staying elsewhere.
Earlier, around 8 pm on Monday, in a text message sent to a reporter of Agamir Somoy, Shahjalal Rumi said that he is no longer in the country. In the message, he wrote, "May you all stay well." However, details about when and how he left the country could not be known.
On October 21, allegations of sexual abuse were raised against a seven-year-old student of Qariul Quran International Cadet Madrasa in the Auchpara area of Tongi. In this incident, the child's father, Shahjalal Rumi, slapped and beat 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, discussion and criticism erupted across the country.
After the incident, Shahjalal Rumi filed a case at Tongi West Police Station as the complainant, accusing the teacher of child sexual abuse. Later, a counter-case was filed against him on behalf of the madrasa principal. In that case, various allegations including the theft of Tk 17 lakh were brought.
Questions have arisen about Shahjalal Rumi's whereabouts since the counter-case was filed. After he stated in a text message sent on Monday that he had left the country, discussion on the matter began anew. However, his current location and the matter of his leaving the country have not been independently confirmed.

