University teachers ask MP Salim Osman to say sorry for his ‘savagery’

University teachers have demanded an apology from MP AKM Salim Osman for publicly shaming a teacher in Narayanganj by making him squat while holding his ears.

Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Associations (FBUTA), in a statement on Tuesday, described the incident as the ‘highest form of savagery’.

The Jatiya Party leader meted out the punishment to Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, the head teacher of Piyar Sattar Latif High School after he was beaten for alleged remarks against Islam on Friday.

The FBUTA, which brings together the teachers’ associations from all public universities, asked authorities to investigate the incident to “uphold the system of honour for education and teachers”.

“We want everyone involved in this horrible act to apologise.”

Osman is seen ordering Bhakta to do sit-ups while holding his ears in a video of the abuse from the school at Kalyanadi from Bandar Upazila’s Kalagachia Union.

The method is used to shame mostly children.    

Besides being a key member of the Osman family that enjoys massive clout in the district, the MP also heads Bangladesh Knit Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

His brother AKM Shamim Osman is an MP of the ruling Awami League. Salim Osman was elected to Narayanganj-5 after his brother Nasim Osman who represented that seat died in 2014.

Salim claimed he had ‘rescued’ the teacher from ‘mob justice’ after he was beaten and cornered by teachers of the school.

“I went to the spot to save the headmaster from the angry mob and I even made sure he would get medical attention after being taken into police custody. The teacher apologised holding his ears based on demands made by locals,” he told reporters. 

“It looked as though the MP were the teacher and Shyamal Kanti Bhakta his erring student. The teacher fell unconscious from doing the sit-ups,” said Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, FBUTA secretary, who also signed the statement besides its president Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed.

“Medical treatment might help him physically, but we can guess how he must be feeling.”

The teacher after suffering the humiliating punishment was also put out of his job on Tuesday by the school authorities, accusing him of taking bribes and being absent among the reasons cited for the sacking.