Teacher arrested in Kushtia over allegation of derogatory remarks about PM in classroom

Police have arrested an assistant teacher named Golam Kibria (Lalon) on the allegation of making ‘derogatory and objectionable’ remarks about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the classroom in Daulatpur of Kushtia.

He was arrested from Pragpur area of the Bheramara-Pragpur regional highway around 11am on Wednesday. Golam Kibria is a Bangla subject teacher of Pragpur Secondary School of the upazila. He is a resident of Pragpur Pashchimpara area.

Golam Kibria was under arrest at Daulatpur Police Station until the report was written at 8:30pm. Additional Police Superintendent of Kushtia (Daulatpur Circle) Delwar Hossain said that when an exciting situation was created centering on the allegation of derogatory remarks, police brought the teacher to the police station to control the situation. No decision has been taken yet regarding him.

It has been learnt from sources of local residents, guardians and students that Golam Kibria was taking the Bangla class of class ten around 3pm on Tuesday. At that time the context of the Prime Minister’s recent Bangla speech at the United Nations came up. The students alleged that then he made objectionable remarks about the Prime Minister’s Bangla pronunciation. This created resentment among many. After school was over, the students discussed the matter with others.

As a consequence of this incident, guardians and local residents gathered in the school premises on Wednesday morning and demanded punishment of the accused teacher. After receiving the news, police went to the spot and brought the situation under control. Later the teacher Golam Kibria was arrested by conducting a drive.

Head teacher of Pragpur Secondary School Ashrafuzzaman Mukul is also the chairman of Pragpur Union Parishad. He said that he came to know about the matter on Tuesday night. The next morning the teacher was interrogated in the presence of the former president of the school managing committee and those concerned.

The head teacher said that during the interrogation teacher Lalon claimed that he had only made a comment that some unclearness has been created in the Bangla pronunciation as the Prime Minister has been living a long life in exile.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Daulatpur Police Station Khaledur Rahman said that the teacher has been arrested on the allegation of making derogatory and objectionable remarks about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the classroom. Detailed investigation is ongoing regarding the allegation. Subsequent legal measures will be taken after the investigation is completed.