Dhaka: A ninth-grade female student was rescued from a school washroom in Digholia upazila with her hands, legs, and mouth tied, nearly five hours after classes ended on Thursday. The shocking incident took place at Gazirhat Hazi Naimuddin High School and has raised serious concerns about student safety in the area.

According to United News of Bangladesh, school authorities and local residents reported that classes concluded around 4:00pm, after which the school premises were vacated by teachers, staff, and students. Around 9:00pm, construction workers at the school heard unusual sounds emanating from a locked washroom. Suspecting someone might be trapped inside, they approached the washroom and heard a girl moaning. Upon breaking the lock, they discovered the student lying inside with her hands, legs, and mouth bound.

The workers immediately rescued her and transported her to the chamber of local physician Mofizur Rahman Shafin for first aid. As her condition worsened, she was subsequently shifted to a private hospital in Khulna.

The girl’s mother alleged that her daughter was attacked from behind when she entered the washroom after classes. She claimed the attackers tied her daughter’s hands, legs, and mouth before injecting her with an unidentified substance and inflicting blade-like cuts on her body.

Police have yet to establish the details of the incident or identify those responsible. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Digholia Police Station Hawlader Sanwar Hossain Masum stated that an initial investigation indicated that two individuals stayed near the washroom after school hours. Authorities suspect these individuals may have taken advantage of the deserted school to assault the girl.

OC Masum noted that the girl later regained consciousness and made noises that attracted the attention of the construction workers. However, the girl reportedly told her relatives that she did not recognize her attackers.

Investigators are also exploring whether the incident might be connected to a possible money dispute related to the time when the girl’s father managed an NGO several years ago. ‘We are investigating who committed the incident and why. Those responsible will be brought to justice as soon as possible,’ stated OC Masum.