THE headmaster of a Narayangonj High School who was publicly humiliated for his alleged disparaging remarks on religion in presence of the local MP AKM Selim Osman of Jatiya Party has also been suspended now and put under police custody at a local hospital where he is taking treatment. It was indeed an ugly scene and the most improper treatment of a teacher. The newspapers say he was made to repeatedly stand and squat holding his ears with his hands until he fell to the ground. TV footage shows that the MP personally oversaw the punishment. As the teacher happens to be Hindu by faith, it is more disturbing because they deserve our special protection. It remains quite difficult to understand as to why the Member of the Parliament could not behave in a responsible manner. We hate to repeat it that politics has become such a foul business that respectable people are not prepared for positions like Member of the Parliament. Politics has become worst example for irresponsible behaviour. The MP should have controled the public anger and deal with the matter in a decent and respectable way. A teacher is to be highly respectable person for the students and the nation. But the bad influence of politicisation has also affected recruitment of right and respectable teachers. It is to be admitted that involvement of honourable persons in public life has become a rare thing. Teachers must behave like teachers and the students must behave like students. But not to show respect to respectable people is found widespread in public life. The High Court yesterday asked the government in a suo moto to take action against the lawmaker and report to the court in three days. It is a good example in the absence of responsible politics that the court should do what is right for them to do to protect the powerless people. We have to urge that the public representatives must learn to treat each other and the people respectfully. Those who are holding public positions must know how to handle situation in a just manner. The teacher should be first respectably restored to his position. Thereafter, if action is to be taken, it must be departmentally through lawful process.
