Headmaster beaten up by UP member

The head teacher of a high school is in a critical state after he was assaulted allegedly by a local union parishad member and his goons yesterday in Boraigram upazila.

Mizanur Rahman, 50, head teacher of Panchbaria High School at Nagar union, was on way to the school on an auto rickshaw when the incident took place.

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UP member Bachchu Pramanik along with his cohorts waylaid the head teacher around 11:30am, said Jahangir Alam, driver of the auto rickshaw.

They dragged him out of the vehicle, clubbed him violently with sticks until he fell unconscious, Jahangir added.

The driver then took him to Patwari General Hospital in the area with severe injuries on the head, legs and arms.

The victim was referred to Pongu Hospital (National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation) in Dhaka for intensive treatment as he had serious injury on the head and bones on his legs and arms had multiple ruptures, said Siddiqur Rahman Patwari of Patwari General Hospital. 

Prior to getting admission at the NITOR, Mizan has been initially admitted to LabAid Specialized Hospital in Dhaka, said victim's son Arif Kallol.

Jahan Ara Parvin, elder sister of the victim, demanded immediate and exemplary punishment to the perpetrators, saying that Bachchu and 10 to 12 of his men attacked her brother over a dispute in forming a managing committee of the school.

In his bid to contest the election of the managing committee of the school, Bachchu and his followers pressurised him to falsely attest that Bachchu is a guardian of a student at the school, Mizan said, adding that they attacked Mizan as he refused to entertain their undue demand.

"I lost consciousness during their vicious attack and I don't recall what happened afterwards. I've never experienced such physical assault in my 30 years' career as a teacher. I haven't committed any crime, nor have I been involved in any corruption. I am innocent, but Bachchu has crippled my arms and legs.

I request the prime minister's intervention and the locals' help," said a weeping Mizan.

Bachchu is a listed criminal and he is accused in several cases with arrest warrants issued against him, said Nilufa Yasmin Dalu, chairman of Nagar UP.

Siddiqur Rahman Patwari of Patwari General Hospital, who is also a leader of Natore district unit Awami League, said, "We demand immediate and exemplary punishment of Bachchu. In April last year Bachchu assaulted another teacher named Abul Kalam Azad of Chandai High School."

"The brutal attack left Azad paralyzed. The attack on Mizan could've been averted if Bachchu were punished after he attacked Azad," he added.

No case was filed in this connection until the filing of this report at 6:00pm.

Shariar Khan, officer-in-charge of Boraigram Police Station, said, "We'll take action after receiving complaints."