Free Hriday Mondal

Different rights bodies yesterday demanded the immediate release of Hriday Chandra Mondal, the Munshiganj school teacher who is now behind bars in a case filed over demeaning religion.

"We demand the unconditional release of Hriday Mondal, who is a victim of fundamentalists' conspiracy," read a statement by Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.

The statement, which was signed by around one hundred dignitaries, also demanded punishment for those involved with the conspiracy.

"If the victim's family members want, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee will provide legal assistance to the victim," it added.

In another statement, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) also demanded Mondal's immediate release and security for his family members.

As per news reports published in different media, it appears that an evil force is trying to create chaos by capitalising on religion, it said.

ASK also demanded an investigation into the role of local administration, police and school authorities during the incident.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), in separate statements, also demanded Mondal's immediate release.

Demanding his release, social organisation Nipironer Biruddhe Shabagh will hold a rally tomorrow at Shabagh.

On March 20, Mondal, assistant teacher of Binodpur Ram Kumar High School in Munshiganj, was having a conversation with students about the difference between religion and science.

Later that afternoon, a group of students filed a written complaint with the principal of the school, alleging that Mondal made derogatory comments about Islam.

On March 22, some students staged a demonstration, following which police detained Mondal. On the same night, the school's office assistant, Md Asad Miah, filed the case against him for "demeaning religion".