Headmaster beaten with hammer

A high school headmaster was beaten up with hammer allegedly by a local Awami League leader and his men in Gangni upazila of Meherpur on Sunday.

The assault left his left leg broken.

Victim Rafiqul Islam told The Daily Star he was attacked for “refusing to recommend the leader's appointment as the president of his school's management committee unlawfully”.

According to Rafiqul, 48, and local sources, the management committee election of Devipur High School was held on December 26 in the presence of Gangni Upazila Secondary School Education Officer Mir Habibul Basher.

Following due procedures, the committee elected Abdul Baki, a freedom fighter, as its president, Habibul told The Daily Star.

Baki became the president beating the other candidate, Mamunur Rashid, who is the president of Bamundi union ward-7 AL, said Rafiqul and the local sources.

However, Mamunur, 32, allegedly did not accept the election results and repeatedly asked the headmaster to send his name, instead of Baki's, to the education board for its approval.

As Rafiqul refused, the AL leader “threatened” to beat him up “merciless”, said the victim.

Several local AL leaders also asked him to send Mamunur's name to the board, the teacher said, without mentioning their names.

Rafiqul said Mamunur along with three of his accomplices swooped on him with a hammer and sticks when he was on his way to his school around 9:30am on Sunday.

After the attackers left, locals took him to Gangni Upazila Health Complex. Later, he was shifted to Kushtia Medical College Hospital.

Yesterday morning, he was again brought back to the health complex in Meherpur as his family lives in the district.

Apart from breaking his left leg, Rafiqul also had injuries in his chest and hands, said MK Reza, a medical officer at the health complex.

Afzal Hossain, president of Gangni Upazila Teachers Association, demanded immediate arrest of the attackers.

Mamunur could not be reached over phone for comment despite repeated attempts.

Contacted, Bamundi Union AL President Sahidul Islam, who is also the chairman of Bamundi Union Parishad, said he heard about the incident but declined to make further comments.

Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gangni Police Station, said Mominul Islam, younger brother of the teacher, filed a case against the AL leader with his police station yesterday.

Police were trying to arrest the accused, he added.

Earlier in November last year, a local Jubo League leader and his men allegedly tortured to death a retired primary school teacher of Rajapur upazila in Jhalakathi.

Later in that month, some Chhatra League activists allegedly assaulted three teachers of Rajshahi Government College when they tried to save a student from an attack.