DHAKA: A court has jailed two teachers in southern Bangladesh for making derogatory comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Magistrate Anwar Parvez told The Associated Press the case began when students at Hijla High School in Bagerhat district complained that the assistant teacher of a science class on Sunday dismissed the Holy Quran as the word of Allah and said there was no heaven.

Parvez said Tuesday that a mob including students, parents and villagers attacked the teachers who belonged to a small Hindu community with sticks, forcing them to lock themselves in a room until police intervened.

The magistrate said the assistant teacher pleaded guilty to publicly insulting a religion, and both he and the school's head teacher were then sentenced to six months behind bars.

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...