Bribery Case : Shyamal Kanti's release demanded
Expressing grave concern, students, cultural and rights activists yesterday demanded immediate release of Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, a Narayanganj schoolteacher who was sent to jail in a bribery case on Wednesday.
Shyamal, headmaster of Piyar Sattar Latif High School in Bandar area, was also insulted in presence of a local lawmaker last year.
The demonstrators also demanded the government withdraw the case and punish those who insulted the schoolteacher and filed the "false" case.
The demands were made at two demonstrations organised by two platforms of students and activists -- Chattra-Shikkhok-Shilpi-Sangskrtikormi O Nagorikbrindo and Gaurab-71 -- in front of the National Museum in the capital's Shahbagh.
Shyamal landed in jail in the bribery case filed by one of his colleagues. His bail petition is now pending with the Narayanganj Sessions Judge's Court, and hearing on the petition is scheduled for May 31.
On May 13 last year, Shyamal was forced to do squats holding ears in presence of local Jatiya Party lawmaker AKM Salim Osman over allegation of making derogatory remarks about religion.
But a judicial inquiry found untrue the allegation against the teacher. It also found that Shyamal was forced to do squats holding ears on Salim's instructions.
Speaking at a demonstration, Golam Kuddus, eminent cultural activist and president of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, claimed that the case was false, and it was lodged under influence of Salim.
Rights activists Khushi Kabir said the Osman family was involved in different crimes that happened in the district.
“How can they do whatever they want to do? Are they beyond law and justice?” asked Khushi, coordinator of Nijera Kori.
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