Hindu Headmaster in Bangladesh Assaulted and Forced to Resign Amid Baseless Accusations

Synopsis

The family of Kanti Lal Acharya, a Hindu headmaster in Bangladesh, is distraught after he was held hostage and forced to resign amidst baseless allegations. Local media reports reveal that BNP members pressured him into resigning, raising concerns over the treatment of teachers and minorities in the country.

Key Takeaways

Kanti Lal Acharya was ousted as headmaster based on false charges.
His daughter, Bhavana Acharya, expressed outrage over the situation.
Reports suggest a growing hostility towards non-Muslim educators.
The incident is part of a wider trend of violence against minorities in Bangladesh.
India has raised concerns over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh.

Dhaka, April 18 (NationPress) The family of an ousted Hindu headmaster from a high school in Bangladesh has voiced their deep concern and disappointment after he was taken hostage and coerced into resigning from his position based on unfounded allegations. Reports from local media indicate that Kanti Lal Acharya, the acting headmaster of Bhatiari Haji Tobarak Ali Chowdhury (TAC) High School in Chittagong, was pressured into signing a resignation letter by members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia, and their affiliated organizations.

On Thursday, his daughter, Bhavana Acharya, took to social media, claiming that her father was forced to resign without any substantiated charges. She stated, "My father Kanti Lal Acharya has dedicated 35 years to teaching at Bhatiari Haji Tobarak Ali High School. He was unceremoniously removed from his post on Wednesday without any evidence of wrongdoing. What crime has my father committed? There has been no explanation."

She elaborated that her father had been barred from attending school prior to this incident, with threats of humiliation if he returned. In response, he maintained that he had done nothing wrong and expressed willingness to step down if asked, but insisted on attending school and demanded proof of any allegations against him.

Bhavana remarked that her father remained undaunted despite being coerced into signing a document claiming he resigned voluntarily due to corruption charges. "My father firmly stated that he has not engaged in any corrupt activities and would not sign such a statement. He indicated he would resign on his own terms instead. At that moment, he was physically assaulted. Subsequently, another document was created, falsely asserting that he resigned for personal reasons," she explained.

She further emphasized, "This is a disgrace to educators! We are perhaps the only nation globally that targets teachers at every level, subjecting them to such degrading treatment."

In an interview with Bangladesh's prominent Bengali daily Prothom Alo, Kanti Lal Acharya revealed that he has fallen ill following the school incident and is in a state of perpetual fear, with his entire family also anxious about his well-being.

When approached for comment, Upazila Executive Officer Fakhrul Islam informed Prothom Alo that the authorities of the Chittagong Education Board have established a committee to investigate the matter.

Additionally, reports suggest that members of the BNP who assaulted the teacher claimed that Bangladesh should be an Islamic state where non-Muslims should not hold leadership positions in schools.

Since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government last August, Bangladesh has experienced rising violence and a declining law and order situation.

The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been frequently criticized for its treatment of minority groups.

India has consistently expressed concern over the situation, urging the Yunus-led government to take decisive action against those responsible for the violence.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the safety of minorities in Bangladesh during a meeting with Yunus on the margins of the BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok.