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| Bangladesh |
| Hefazat issues ultimatum for Shyamal’s punishment |
| 2016-05-21 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] Hefajat-e-Islam ...a madrassa-based false nose and mustache of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, formed in 2010 to protest against secular education. In 2011 demonstrated violentyly against women's rights and in 2013 held large rallies demanding capital punishment of Shahbag Square protesters and banning women working outside the home... , a fundamentalist Islamic outfit in Bangladesh, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding punishment for Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, a Hindu school teacher accused of disrespecting Islam. At a rally in Narayanganj after the Jumma prayers yesterday, Hefazat’s local branch, alongside several other religious organizations, also demanded resignation of Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid within the given time for reappointing Shyamal as headmaster of Piyar Sattar Latif High School. Rifat Hasan, the student who first raised the allegations against Shyamal, was brought to speak before a crowd of around a thousand people in front of the DIT Mosque in the city. Although Rifat denied making the allegations in an interview with a private TV channel, he reiterated them when speaking to BBC Bangla. At yesterday’s rally, Rifat accused his teacher of name-calling Allah as an angry crowd roared in response. DIT Mosque’s Khatib Abdul Awal, who is also the head of the local Hefazat chapter, claimed his organization had carried out an investigation into the incident and found Shyamal to be guilty. On May 8, Shyamal Kanti Bhakta was beaten up by a mob and publicly humiliated by local politician Salim Osman after allegations of defaming Islam were brought against him. The politician’s actions triggered countrywide protests, resulting in the Education Ministry dissolving the school committee. Shyamal has consistently denied the charges. |
| Posted by:Fred |