Revoke Natore teacher’s suspension order: HC

A High Court bench yesterday said there were 22 "Awami Razakars" in the Khandaker Mushtaque Ahmed-led cabinet, formed after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination on August 15, 1975.

The ghost of razakars, who had collaborated with Pakistani forces during the Liberation War in 1971, still looms, the bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Showkat Ali Chowdhury said.

The High Court bench made the remark while hearing a writ petition challenging the legality of suspension of one Md Masudur Rahman.

Masudur, an assistant teacher of Dorikachhikata Government Primary School in Natore's Gurudaspur upazila, was suspended for allegedly uttering "Joy Bangla" at a rally organised on August 14 to observe National Mourning Day.

The court also blasted Md Golam Nabi, district education officer of Natore, for suspending the teacher on August 23. It ordered him to withdraw the suspension order and submit a report by November 11 after complying with it.

Nabi's lawyer Gazi Mustaque Ahmed told the HC that his client suspended Masudur Rahman at the instruction from Prof Md Abdul Quddus, the then lawmaker of the constituency and former state minister from fisheries and livestock, who died on August 30, as Masudur chanted derogatory slogans about him (Quddus) at the same rally.

The court said DEO Nabi must discharge his official duties as per relevant rules and cannot do anything for someone's personal interest.

This court has earlier delivered a verdict declaring "Joy Bangla" as the national slogan, and teacher Masudur has not done any wrong by uttering the slogan, the HC bench added.