BANGLADESH

At least 64 students of a primary school in Madaripur Sadar upazila have suffered injuries after their teacher caned them.

The incident took place Sunday noon at the upazila's Lebutali Bajitpur Government Primary School when assistant teacher Masuma Akter Shompa began beating the students.

Of the injured, 10 were treated at Rajoir Upazila Health Complex and Madaripur Sadar Hospital while the rest received primary medical attention with minor injuries.

Some of the injured students told reporters that Masuma was sleeping in the classroom during her class. She woke up with a start hearing the students shout and started beating them with a stick closed-door.

The school management committee president Amal Kumar Kundu said, "All the students have been injured more or less."

"The committee will sit with Masuma, students and their parents over the matter in a few days. If she is guilty, we'll take legal measures," he said.

Masuma said, "I've spoken with the parents and asked for forgiveness. It was criminal of me to have beaten them."

Madaripur Sadar Police Station inspector Shyamal Kumar said, "I've visited the place of occurrence. There was injury marks on the bodies of those students."

Upazila education officer Mohsin Reza told bdnews24.com that two assistant education officers visited the scholl and found the incident true. "We'll inform the higher authorities in writing of the matter."