Narayanganj school head teacher was forced to resign, probe body finds

Narayanganj teacher Shyamal Kanti Bhakta was forced by the school’s managing body to resign, states the report of the inquiry body formed by the education ministry.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 May 2016, 06:49 AM
Updated : 26 May 2016, 05:32 PM

The report, submitted to the attorney general’s office on Thursday, also said that the student who had alleged that his religious sensitivities were hurt by Bhakta’s comments came up with ‘confusing statements’ in the course of the inquiry.

The report noted that the head teacher of Piyar Sattar Latif High School was reinstated as his suspension had not been in keeping with regulations.

Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju told bdnews24.com that the probe body made four specific recommendations in the report.

He said that it would be now submitted to the High Court.

On May 13, Bhakta was assaulted in his Narayanganj school by a mob that claimed that the teacher had committed blasphemy against Islam.

He was also made to sit up and down by holding his ears — all of which happened in the presence of the local MP AKM Salim Osman.

The public humiliation of the teacher later triggered countrywide protests against what was perceived to be vigilante justice.

Three days later, on May 17, the school’s managing body sacked Bhakta on several allegations, including assaulting students, corruption and making disparaging statements against Islam.

The next day, a High Court bench issued a rule asking why legal proceedings should not be initiated against those, including Jatiya Party MP Salim Osman, who had publicly humiliated the teacher.

The court, which is expected to hold a hearing on the matter on May 29, had then also ordered the local administration to submit a report on what lawful measures had been taken after the incident.

The probe body said in its report that there were discrepancies between the statements given to the school managing body and to the media by the student who had brought the allegations against Bhakta.

It also said that the written complaint by the student’s mother as well as her statements to the media do not match.

Based on these facts, the probe body concluded that the allegations brought against Bhakta were not true.

The inquiry report said that since Bhakta’s removal had not been lawful, he would remain head teacher of the school.

On May 19, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told the media that the authorities had dismissed the school’s managing body and reinstated Bhakta.

Nahid had said then that the decisions were based on the findings of the probe body.

Four recommendations

a. As a dispute and distrust over financial issues are visible between the headmaster and the managing committee, a special high-level committee of individuals with financial knowledge can be formed for further investigation.

b. The managing committee can be dismissed by the proper authorities. This step has already been taken.

c. The allegation against the headmaster can be considered false as the statements of the complainant (a grade-10 student) given before the school committee and the media, and his mother's written and verbal complaints (aired on the electronic media) differ one from the other.

d. Shyamal Kanti Bhakta can be considered the headmaster since forcing him to sign his resignation letter and suspending him were illegal.

Four observations

Firstly, it appears from preliminary evidence and witnesses that the managing committee and the headmaster had a longstanding dispute, but neither side took steps to resolve it.

Secondly, it is understood from the statements of witnesses and victim Bhakta that an unidentified group instigated the mob on May 13 by raising the allegation of blasphemy against him through the loudspeaker of a nearby mosque, an act which caused the situation.

Thirdly, the complaint over alleged blasphemy by Bhakta filed by the 10th grader has 'confusing comments', and the student’s mother's complaint added to the confusion. Moreover, school committee member Mobarak Hossain, in his statement given to the inquiry committee, alleged Bhakta made derogatory remarks over religion. But he said nothing about the matter while speaking to the media.

Fourthly, compelling the teacher to resign was an unlawful act.