Teacher jailed for maligning Pahela Baishakh

A mobile court in Satkhira yesterday sentenced a school teacher to one year's imprisonment for his objectionable remark about the traditional way of celebrating Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year.

Bishnupada Pal, executive magistrate of Satkhira district administration, handed down the punishment to Zahidur Rahman, an assistant teacher of Baladanga Government Primary School in Satkhira Sadar upazila, for his write up in Bishakha, a magazine published by Satkhira district administration marking the Pahela Baishakh 1422.

Zahidur, son of Abdur Rashid, is a resident of Brahmashasan village under Shyamnagar upazila in the district.

"The district administration handed Zahidur over to the police after his conviction for one year. Besides, he was shown arrested in a case for alleged subversive activities and the investigation officer sought his 10-day remand in connection with the case," said Emdadul Haque Sheikh, officer in charge of Satkhira Sadar Police Station.

Ashraf Hossain, district primary education officer of Satkhira, said Zahidur will be suspended after the copy of the conviction order reaches the office.

Meanwhile, educationists, teachers, political leaders and journalists under the banner of Sachetan Nagarik Samaj yesterday formed a human chain in front of Satkhira Press Club in the town demanding legal action against the people involved with the publication of the objectionable article against the centuries-old culture of celebrating Pahela Baishakh.