Police on Friday arrested the prime accused and another person for spreading rumours that a teacher beat up some students for not “wearing hijab” at a school in Naogaon.
The rumour spread on social media led to a mob vandalising the school property on April 7.
The arrestees have been identified as QM Sayeed Tito5 60, a resident of Upazila Sadar, and Kazi Samshuzzoha Milon, 38, of Kushar Center area.
The arrestees are among about 20-28 people against whom the teacher, Amodini Pal, filed a case for falsely implicating her in the incident on Friday morning.
Also Read - Hijab row: Naogaon schoolteacher Amodini Pal was framed
The assistant headmistress of Daul Barbakpur High School in Naogaon’s Mohadevpur filed the case against five named and 20-25 unnamed others, including the headmaster of the school, Dharani Kanta Barman, President of the school governing body Mahmudul Hasan Sumon, and Salauddin Ahmed, a resident of Gaherpur village in Porsha Upazila.
The case accuses them of defamation and hurting religious harmony.
On April 10, Headmaster Dharani Kanta also filed a general diary accusing 140-150 unknown persons of the attack.
Also Read - Hijab row: Sylhet teacher in hiding for a month over ‘false’ allegation
Police conducted a special drive and arrested the two from Librarypatti and Kushar Center areas of the upazila around 3:30 am on Friday, said Mahadevpur police OC Azam Uddin Mahmud.
"We are trying to nab the other accused", he added.
“On April 7, the school was attacked following the rumour. Many people from the nearby villages attacked and vandalised property of the school,” the OC said.
The duo were sent to jail via a court in the afternoon.
Also Read - Hijab controversy: Student’s allegations found false
Last week, Upazila Secondary Education Officer Habibur Rahman issued a show-cause notice to Amodini Pal over the incident of beating up students.
However, the investigation committee formed by the district administration did not find anything that the students were beaten for wearing “hijab”.
The report said: “Two teachers beat up some students of the school for not wearing school uniforms. Among them, there were several male students and a Hindu female student.”
Meanwhile, cultural group Ekushey Parishad organised a human chain at Muktir Moor in Naogaon town on Friday, demanding punishment of those involved in spreading rumour against the teacher.
Ekushey Parishad President DM Abdul Bari, General Secretary Monwar Hossain, and its advisers Shariful Islam Khan, the former principal of Naogaon Government College, and Kayes Uddin, the president of Naogaon Press Club spoke at the event among others.
