Cultural groups demand arrest of Salim Osman

Artists, activists and cultural enthusiasts yesterday demanded the immediate arrest of Narayanganj lawmaker Salim Osman for humiliating a school headmaster.They also demanded arrest of members of the school managing committee.  Hundreds artists, activists and cultural enthusiasts have organized a solidarity meet at Shahbagh and burnt the effigy of Salim Osman protesting his participation in the Narayanganj school teacher Shyamal Kanti Bhakta's harassment and assault case. 
Speaking at the meet, organizer Robin Ahsan said, "We are burning the effigy of the blemish of the Osman family, Salim Osman." "Osman has no  eyes or ears. He could catch the ears of a teacher because he has no ears and since he has no shame in his eyes, he could insult a teacher", he said. On May 13, Narayanganj Piyar Latif High School headmaster Shyamal Kanti Bhakta was roughed up by a mob that claimed that Bhakta had committed blasphemy against Islam.
Local MP Salim Osman joined the mob at one point, forcing the teacher to do sit ups holding ears.Several leaders representing various progressive political and social organizations also spoke at the Shahbagh event on Monday. Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) President Mujahidul Islam Selim said that the harassment of a teacher indicates the filthy standards to which society in the country has plunged.Shikkha Barta Editor A N Rasheda referred to the leaked telephone recording in which Osman is heard abusing the Narayanganj Press Club general secretary.
"I could not bear to hear it after a while. What language!" she said, adding that no proof of the alleged blasphemy by the teacher had been found yet.She also said that the real reason for the assault was to remove Bhakta from the position of headmaster to make room for a candidate of the leader's choice.