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Published : 19 May 2016, 07:03 PM
He says he will not apologise to the teacher.
The Jatiya Party lawmaker said at a press conference in Narayanganj on Thursday that he would not join Parliament sessions until the investigation into the incident was over.
Referring to the demands that he offer an apology, Salim said he would not say sorry to anyone who ‘blasphemes against Allah’.
“If anyone blasphemes against Allah, whom will I offer apology to as a Muslim?” he retorted.
The MP claims that he was in good terms with the shamed teacher, Shyamal Kanti Bhakta.
Bhakta, the head teacher at Piyar Sattar Latif High School, was assaulted by locals and then the MP made him do sit-ups holding his ears on Friday on charges of hurting religious sentiments.
Police later rescued and admitted the teacher to hospital.
Salim, brother of ruling Awami League MP AKM Shamim Osman, has been facing intense public outrage after a video of the incident, with the locals raising the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan, went viral on the social media.
Following the incident, masses of people staged a unique protest by posting photos of themselves holding their ears and saying ‘Sorry Sir’.
Teachers and lawyers demanded an apology from Salim, a member Narayanganj’s influential Osman family.
The 14-Party coalition led by Awami League slated Salim on Wednesday saying
Salim’s role in the incident as an MP was “unacceptable and he rather disgraced the other MPs".
The coalition demanded restoration of Bhakta’s job who was sacked ‘for being absent’ on Tuesday.
Earlier on Thursday, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid announced the government has dismissed the management committee of the school and reinstated Bhakta after investigation.
The MP from Jatiya Party, the main opposition in Parliament, said in a media conference the protests were “nothing but publication of misleading news that disgraced him in society”.
“I can be ashamed and say sorry to the August Parliament. I would not have had to utter these words – ashamed and sorry – had I organised the media conference on the day of the incident,” Salim said.
The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule over the incident, asking the authorities why Salim and others involved in the assault and public humiliation of the headmaster should not face legal action.
MP Salim organised the conference in Narayanganj hours after Nahid’s announcement.
Refusing to apologise, he said, “I am waiting now as the court has issued a rule. I will not object even if I am sentenced to death after the police and the district administration hold me responsible.”
Salim heads Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).
He said he will suspend his activities as head of BKMEA and NCCI, and will not attend Parliament sessions until the authorities have finished their investigation.
He said the education ministry inquiry committee had not contacted him so far.
