Jatiya Party (JP) Co-chairman GM Kader yesterday said the party’s lawmaker from Narayanganj-5 constituency AKM Salim Osman has tarnished the image of the organisation and put his fellow colleagues in an embarrassing situation for his role in the public shaming of a Narayanganj schoolteacher. “The matter is embarrassing for the party. Such an incident has never happened in the history of the JP. We have never received any such complaints that accuse our leaders or activists of insulting anybody openly. So, Osman’s act has tarnished the party image both home and abroad,” Kader told reporters yesterday.
Meanwhile, Osman met JP Chairman HM Ershad on Sunday to explain his position with ‘video proofs of his innocence’ amid criticism from all the political parties, including the ruling Awami League. “Osman explained his position to our chairman. It will be discussed in the party forum. Action in this regard will be taken after discussion with party senior leaders,” Kader said. Criticising the JP lawmaker’s humiliation of the schoolteacher, 14 party spokesperson, also minister for health affairs, Mohammad Nasim, on Sunday said, “If the lawmaker has the minimum shame, he should not attend the parliament.” He also urged the home minister for taking legal steps against the JP lawmaker for humiliating the teacher.   On May 13, Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, head teacher of Piyar Sattar Latif High School under Bandar upazila in Narayanganj, was beaten up and forced to squat in public holding his ears by Salim Osman, also a leader of the BKMEA for allegedly demeaning religion.