Hindu teacher beaten up for ‘anti-Islam’ remarks

A Hindu school headmaster in Bangladesh was beaten up and made to do sit-ups in the presence of a local legislator for allegedly making disparaging statement against Islam, prompting the government to launch a probe into the incident.

Shyamal Kanti Bhakta of Piyar Sattar Latif high school in Bandar Upazila was beaten up by local people after some unidentified persons using the megaphone of a mosque propagated that Mr Bhakhta made offensive comments about Islam while he was punishing a Muslim student for not studying.

Mr Bhakta was rescued by the police after he was beaten up and made to do sit-ups holding ears in the presence of ruling Awami League lawmaker Selim Osman.

The MP claimed that the punishment was the only way to save the teacher from the wrath of the mob.

Mr Bhakta has denied making any statement against Islam and claimed that some people in school management held grudges against him.

The traumatised teacher was then admitted at a local hospital under police protection.

Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid termed the humiliation of the headmaster as “unacceptable and inhumane”, and said that action would be taken after the three-member inquiry committee submitted its report.