Mob against Shyamal ‘planned’

The demonstration that took place on Monday against Shyamal Kanti Bhakta during the two-day judicial inquiry into the public humiliation of the schoolteacher at Piyar Sattar Latif High School in Bandar under Narayanganj was reported to have been premeditated by a local Jatiya Party (Japa) leader. On Sunday night, Delwar Hossain Prodhan, Kalagachhia Union Parishad chairman and also a local leader of Japa, planned the agitation, several locals who participated in the demonstration told this reporter seeking anonymity. Apart from the demonstration about 20-30 women formed a human chain demanding punishment to Shyamal in front of the school the same day on the instruction of Delwar, said some of the participants of the human chain. Several other women, however, said nobody had instructed them to form the human chain rather they did so spontaneously. Shahin, a shopkeeper of Kollyandi area where the school is located, said: “Some unknown people pasted banners and posters in the area a few days ago demanding punishment to Shyamal, headmaster of the school, on allegation of defaming Islam. Several hundred posters were pasted on either sides of the Madanpur–Madanganj Road and the road leading to Kollandi as the three-member judicial probe body led by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Hafizur Rahman reached Narayanganj through the roads on Monday morning to carry out their two-day investigation. The ruling Awami League, Jatia Party, Puja Udjapon Parishad and several business organisations too staged demonstration in the area demanding punishment to Shyamal Kanti. The Puja Udjapan Parishad and Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad submitted separate memorandum to the judicial inquiry body. But, President of the Puja Udjapan Committee Gopinath Das who is known for his close association with Salim Osman family and Shipon Sarker, its secretary, denied giving copies of the memorandum to the reporters. On Monday, the judicial inquiry committee interrogated 19 people on the school premises in connection with the incident. District JP President Abul Jaher, City JP leader Akram Ali Shaheen, Organising Secretary of Bandar Chhatra League Khan Masud and Delwar were present in front of the school in the morning on the day and stayed there till the hearing was completed. On Tuesday, the team recorded depositions of 12 people including Shyamal Kanti and Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdulla Al Masud and Bandar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam at the Narayanganj Circuit House Auditorium. Followers of Salim Osman, Gopinath, Shipon and Salim’s close ones gathered at the Circuit House in the morning and stayed there till the evening. All the witnesses gave depositions against Shyamal Kanti. Seeking anonymity a member of the school management committee and some leaders and activists of JP said perhaps the upazila nirbahi officer, education officer and the OC gave statements against Shyamal, as they were present on the school premises on May 13, while the teacher was assaulted by a mob on allegation of making defamatory comment against Islam. Salim Osman made Shyamal do squats holding his ears after the mob-beating. A video footage of the incident went viral on social media, triggering massive outcry across Bangladesh. The judicial inquiry team went to the district following a High Court order that rejected a probe report of law enforcers. Police on August 7 submitted the report to the HC saying that the public humiliation of Shyamal Kanti was an “unexpected situation” resulted from a rumour. The court ordered a judicial investigation, led by Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, into the matter. It also asked the committee to submit the findings by November 3. On May 17, the school managing committee sacked Shyamal for allegedly physically assaulting students and making “disparaging statements against Islam”. The Education Ministry dissolved the committee and reinstated Shyamal based on findings from its probe. Syamal Kanti refuted the allegations brought against him. He claimed that he was a victim of a conspiracy.