Dhaka– The family of a Hindu headmaster in Bangladesh has voiced deep concern after he was allegedly beaten, held hostage, and forced to resign under false pretenses by political activists. Kanti Lal Acharya, acting headmaster of Bhatiari Haji Tobarak Ali Chowdhury (TAC) High School in Chittagong, was reportedly coerced into stepping down by members of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and affiliated groups.
According to local media, Acharya was forced to sign a resignation letter after being falsely accused of corruption. His daughter, Bhavana Acharya, took to social media on Thursday, condemning the incident and calling it a grave injustice.
“My father has taught at Bhatiari Haji Tobarak Ali High School for 35 years. He was removed from his position without any proof of wrongdoing,” she wrote. “He was warned not to come to school and told he would be humiliated if he did. Still, he said he had done nothing wrong and was ready to step down if asked, but he would not flee.”
Bhavana alleged that when her father refused to sign a document claiming he was resigning due to corruption charges, he was physically assaulted. “They forced him to sign a different letter, saying he was resigning for personal reasons,” she wrote, calling the ordeal a disgrace to educators. “We are the only nation targeting teachers in this shameful way.”
In an interview with Prothom Alo, one of Bangladesh’s leading Bengali dailies, Acharya said he had fallen ill following the incident and that his family remains in a state of fear and anxiety.
Local government officials confirmed that the Chittagong Education Board has launched an investigation into the matter. Upazila Executive Officer Fakhrul Islam told Prothom Alo that a committee has been formed to probe the allegations and circumstances surrounding Acharya’s resignation.
Some reports indicate that the perpetrators justified their actions by claiming Bangladesh should be an Islamic state where non-Muslims should not hold senior positions in schools.
Since the fall of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Bangladesh has witnessed a rise in violence and a deterioration in law and order. The interim administration under Muhammad Yunus has faced repeated accusations of failing to protect religious minorities.
India has raised concerns over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh and urged the Yunus government to act against the perpetrators. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh with Yunus during a meeting at the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. (Source: IANS)
