Clashes have been reported between Haimchar Upazila Council Chairman Noor Hossain Patwari supporters and protesters demanding the leader’s punishment for walking on the backs of students.
At noon on Thursday violence broke out when Patwari’s supporters attacked locals who had taken out a ‘broom rally’ at Algi Bazar area of the Upazila demanding Patwari’s punishment, Haimchar OC Mahbubur Rahman told bdnews24.com.
Incidents of stone pelting at the Awami League Upazila office were also reported.
OC Mahbubur Rahman said that the situation was peaceful but police were on alert to ward off any unpleasant incident.
No one had been arrested in connection with the incident, the OC said.
Patwari’s mobile phone was found switched off when bdnews24.com tried to contact him.
Upazila Awami League Vice President Md Shahjahan Mia said locals took out a ‘broom rally’ demanding punishment for Patwari, the general secretary of the unit. In retaliation, Patwari’s men chased the protesters, which led to the violence.
Patwari has been embroiled in controversy after pictures and a video of him walking on the back of a student and borne aloft on the hands of his peers surfaced on Facebook and raised a furore.
That incident took place on Monday at Nilkamal Osmania High School during its annual sports day.
A case has been filed against Patwari and the school administration.
Prince booked
A case has been filed in another incident of a similar nature where a donor of land to a Melandaha school was caught on camera walking on the shoulders of students, who were performing as a bridge for him.
On Jan 29, land donor Dildar Hossain Prince, while attending an event at Mahmudpur Bahumukhi High School in Melandaha of Jamalpur, was photographed walking on a so-called bridge along the shoulders of students.
On Thursday night, Upazila Secondary Education Officer Mozammel Hoque filed the case against Prince, the school’s Headmaster Aslat Zaman, Physical Education Teacher Hafizur Rahman and another unknown individual under Section 70 of the Children’s Act 2013.
On Thursday, the district and upazila administrations also constituted two separate committees to investigate the matter.
Source: Bd news24
