Amnesty International has expressed concern over the arrest of Hriday Chandra Mandal, a science teacher at a school in Munshiganj, Bangladesh, on charges of religious disrespect. In a statement released on Wednesday, the international human rights organization stated that Mr. Mandal should be released immediately and unconditionally from prison.
The arrest has sparked widespread protests on social media and in various places including Dhaka, demanding Mandal’s release. The teacher was reportedly discussing the differences between science and religion in response to a student’s question during a science class. This discussion was secretly recorded and shared on social media, which led to his arrest.
Following his arrest on March 22, a local magistrate’s court has rejected his bail application twice last week. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, where his lawyers plan to apply for bail again.
The incident raises concerns about the potential impact on science education in Bangladesh. When asked if this incident could create a conflict between scientific and religious education, Bangladesh’s Deputy Minister of Education, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, told BBC Bangla, “There is no conflict between scientific and religious education in Bangladesh’s educational system, there never was, and there will not be any in the future. I see no reason for conflict.”
However, Chowdhury acknowledged that certain groups have been trying to use such incidents to create a communal society and incite conflicts between different religions. “There are political forces that want to turn Bangladesh into Pakistan, to establish a strict societal structure based on rigid religious norms. We are aware of such attempts,” he added.
The teacher aimed to explain scientific facts and knowledge, but he was confronted with a question unrelated to science or religion. “It seems that the discussion was intentionally created to provoke controversy and victimize the teacher,” he said.
The matter is sub judice, and the Deputy Minister preferred not to comment specifically on it.
Highlighting similar violent incidents in Pakistan, Minister Chowdhury emphasized, “We must ensure that such situations do not arise in our country. I believe our police and judicial system must play a special role to ensure that cases are not filed based merely on what someone said or heard, and that bail is not denied on such grounds.”
Yet, the Minister warned, “If this sets a precedent, then great dangers await.”
This case of Hriday Mandal is not only a matter concerning his freedom but also raises significant questions about the balance between educational integrity and religious sentiments in Bangladesh.
