Shyamal Kanti Bhakta of Piyar Sattar Latif High School in Bandar Upazila says the locals were provoked by the false accusations of him making disparaging statements about Islam.

Bhakta was rescued by police after he was beaten up and made to do sit-ups holding ears in the presence of MP AKM Salim Osman on Friday.

The MP claimed that the punishment was the only way to save the teacher from the wrath of the mob.

Bhakta has denied having been critical of religion and said some people in school management held grudges against him for not entertaining their ‘unethical requests’.

They tried to get him killed to avenge the snub, he has said and demanded punishment to the offenders.

The Upazila administration has launched an investigation. No formal complaint has been lodged against him.

Read details in Bangla