Hriday Chandra Mondal, the schoolteacher from Munshiganj who was taken into police custody in the face of protests by students and locals for discussing the difference between religion and science, came out of jail on Sunday after 19 days.
In an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune, he talks about his side of the story on what actually happened at Binodpur Ramkumar High School on March 20.
Even though Hriday Mondal is a mathematics teacher, on that particular day he had to take a science class for tenth-graders of the humanities section. And everything went downhill from there.
Dhaka Tribune: How are you?
Hriday Mondal: I am good. Taking some time off to rest.
DT: When are you planning to take classes again?
Hriday Mondal: I am currently in Dhaka, and undergoing some medical treatment. Hopefully, I will return home and begin working in four-five days.
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DT: Could you please explain how the matter of hurting religious sentiments even began?
Hriday Mondal: On March 20, the school was understaffed, and hence I had to teach two classes at once. I mainly teach maths for the tenth grade. However, on that day, I had to combine two sections and take a science class.
So, when I was giving lectures from the science book, a particular boy was constantly bringing up religion and asking me to explain things compared to science. I tried to avoid it as much as I could, but his questions did not stop.
At one point, the students asked if they should follow religion or science, as for them, these two represented different aspects. They kept asking how humans came to earth. I kept my focus on science.
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However, I had no idea that some of the students were recording our conversation on their mobile phones.
The next day, I took classes as per my routine and went back home after work. I got a call from our school’s Headteacher Alauddin Ahmed, and he asked me to meet him at school again.
I was informed that the students had complained to him that I disrespected religion. I told the headmaster that the allegations were wrong, and the students were saying the opposite of what happened that day.
He did not believe me and rather asked me to sit for a meeting again on March 22 to resolve the issue. However, we could not hold a meeting because a protest had already started against me on campus. The school authorities became busy handling them.
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DT: Do you know who recorded the conversation?
Hriday Mondal: There were a lot of students from both sections that day. I cannot recall their names, but if I look at the attendance sheet, I might recognize them.
DT: Do you know who participated in the protest?
Hriday Mondal: I only recognized some 10-12 students from the eighth grade. However, I cannot recall their names.
The protest was mostly attended by former students of Binodpur Ramkumar High School, as well as some locals.
When the protests got out of hand, and the crowd started assaulting me, the school authorities handed me over to the police for my safety. Police officers took me into custody.
Later, the superintendent of police (SP) of the station listened to the recording, and told me: ‘Sir, you did not say anything that disrespects religion. But we have to keep you in custody till the situation is under control.’
The SP later filed a case against me after consulting with Alauddin Ahmed, the headmaster. They told me it was a simple case, and I would be out on bail in two to three days. They did not tell me the case would be so complicated.
DT: Why do you think your students made false accusations against you? What were they angry about?
Hriday Mondal: To be honest, this is not the first time I have faced such false accusations. I have been with this school for 20 years, and every year I have faced some issues regarding various allegations.
I think the main reason for the hatred against me is that I am a mathematics and science teacher here. Students particularly despise me because I am honest. I do not give them the marks that would allow them to sit for SSC examinations if they are not doing well in the tests.
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Almost every school has 14-15 students who are troublemakers and do not like to study. They either get zero or five on exams and blame it on the teachers. We cannot give them pass marks even if we want to.
I also believe there are some teachers involved in the incident as well.
Several retired teachers as well as teachers from other schools take private coaching classes. They do not get enough students for their batches, because I teach around 60 students as well.
In addition, I am a sincere person, which is why students flock to me when they need a class. The other teachers do not like this. Many of our teachers, especially those in Maths, English, and Science, do not like it either. I know about them, but I do not want to disclose their names.
I was being harassed by some students for quite some time. They used to kick my door and use foul language to verbally abuse me. Some 20 days ago, I caught four boys when they were kicking my door. I saw them running away, once they realized I saw them.
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Approximately 10 days later, the same students began using vulgar language about me. Upon being confronted about the matter, they denied any wrongdoing. “You are our teacher, why would we use swear words?” they said.
Later, a local shop owner and I confronted them about the matter and asked them to behave next time.
Two days later, the voice recording was out.
DT: After getting bail, you said that you were framed on false charges due to a quarrel inside the school. Could you please explain that?
Hriday Mondal: I am a strict teacher. If I see students running around the campus, or not coming to classes on time, I scold or punish them. But I do it for their benefit.
Most teachers do not bother about it, and hence the school is on the verge of destruction. The teachers have a rage against me because I want to see good happening in the school.
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Another important thing is, our school has two shifts. I noticed that some students come half an hour late to the classes because they go to coaching centres run by the other teachers, before they come to school.
When I came to know of it, I asked them to maintain time. So, the teachers may have a grudge against me for this.
They (teachers) may have instructed the students to harass me. Or else why would there be so many students from other schools at the protest?
DT: Do you know any of the teachers who may be involved in this?
Hriday Mondal: Some of the teachers are from my school, while others are from different schools. I do not wish to name them. People who are vicious will always stay vicious. May God bless them.
So far, I have been provided with security and safety by the authorities. But my family and I are still not safe. I am asking for security from the government so that my family can live in peace.
I also want to feel safe in my classes again.
