A court here on Sunday sent Dharani Kanta Barman, head teacher of the Daul Barbakpur High School in Naogaon’s Mahadebpur that shot to the nation's attention over a contrived hijab row, to jail after he was taken into custody in a case filed by assistant head teacher Amodini Pal. Naogaon Senior Judicial Cognizance Court-3 Judge Tajul Islam passed the order after accused Dharani Kanta appealed for bail appearing before the court. Earlier on Thursday night QM Sayeed Tito, and Kazi Samshuzzaman Milon were arrested in the same case. The arrestees are among about 20-25 people against whom the teacher Amodini Pal filed a case of defamation for falsely implicating her in the incident and hurting religious sentiment by spreading misinformation. Also read: Two held over Naogaon ‘Hijab’ row On April 9, Amodini Pal, assistant headmistress of Daul Barbakpur High School, filed a against these people, including the headmaster of the school Dharani Kant Barman, president of the school managing committee Mahmudul Hasan Sumon and Salauddin Ahmed, a resident of Gaherpur village in Porsha upazila. Earlier on April 10, Dharani kanta Barman filed a general diary at the same police station accusing 150 anonymous people for spreading rumors about a teacher beating up students for wearing hijab in school and vandalising school property. That was in relation to an incident from April 6, when Amodini Pal, assistant headmistress of the school allegedly caned 16-18 students of the 8th, 9th and 10th classes for not wearing school uniforms. Later, it was distorted into an issue over hijab, as some of the girls who got punished were wearing their hijab. But even male students were punished on the day, by a different teacher. On April 11, a three member administrative probe body formed in this regard submitted a report to Mohadebpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mizanur Rahman. Also read: Amodini Pal punished students for not wearing uniform, not over hijab: Probe report The committee did not find proof of students being punished for wearing hijab, rather it said Amodini Pal and Badiul Alam punished some students for not wearing school dress and there were male students and Hindu students among them.

An administrative probe body formed over rumors about a teacher beating up students for wearing hijab at Daul Barbakpur High School in Naogaon’s Mahadebpur submitted a report after investigation on Monday. The committee has found evidence that some teachers and members of the management committee of the school had spread rumors against assistant headmistress Amodini Pal due to internal conflicts. The head of the committee Abdul Maleque, upazila livestock officer, along with two other members submitted the report to Mohadebpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mizanur Rahman around 8pm. UNO Mizanur Rahman said the committee did not find proof of students being punished for wearing hijab. The report said,”The committee believes that the school's assistant headmaster Amodini Pal and physical education teacher Badiul Alam have beaten the students on April 6 because of their school dress. Due to the internal dilemma of the school, a group attempted to divert the incident toward the hijab issue”. The inquiry committee has recommended legal action against those who have spread the rumor. The committee also recommended taking legal action against some 150 to 200 people who attacked the school on April 7 triggered by the rumor. UNO Mizanur Rahman said, “Head teacher of the school Dharani Kanta Barman only show-caused Amodini Pal for the incident which seemed intentional to the committee so it has recommended taking departmental action against him.” READ: Hijab row: Naogaon school headteacher files GD accusing 150 anonymous people The report also recommended taking departmental action against teacher Amodini Pal and teacher Badiul Alam for physically beating students in violation of government directives, he said. Regarding identifying the people who spread the rumors, UNO Mizanur said,”Some people have been identified by the committee. Their names will be disclosed after taking legal actions.” He said that the observations and recommendations made by the inquiry committee will be taken into account and action will be taken where necessary in this incident. Earlier on April 6, Amodini Pal, assistant headmistress of the school allegedly beat 16-18 students in the 8th, 9th and 10th classes of the school around 11am for not wearing school uniforms. Later, it turned into a "hijab" row and spread on social media. Although some of the girls who got punished were wearing hijab, others who violated the uniform code without wearing hijab, and also some boys (who were dealt with by a different, male teacher), were at the receiving end of the teachers' punishment on the day.