Hriday Chandra Mondal, a veteran science teacher who drew national attention following a controversial blasphemy case in 2022, passed away yesterday afternoon (April 4, 2026). He was being treated under intensive observation after suffering a brain stroke on April 1.
The educator, who served Binodpur Ram Kumar High School in Munshiganj for over two decades, had been battling thyroid complications for a long time. Family sources noted that despite undergoing surgery, his health continued to decline, compounded by severe financial hardship in his final years.
A Life Marked by Legal Struggle
Hriday Chandra Mondal became a household name in March 2022 when he was arrested on charges of “hurting religious sentiments” during a classroom discussion on the relationship between science and religion. The incident, sparked by a recorded conversation in a 10th-grade classroom, led to his imprisonment for 19 days.
However, subsequent investigations by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and the police found no evidence of the allegations. On August 16, 2022, the Munshiganj court officially acquitted him of all charges after the police submitted a final report proving the accusations were false.
The Toll of Harassment
Following his release, Hriday Chandra Mondal often spoke of the psychological and social toll the case took on his life.
“I was harassed in various ways over a false allegation. I had to go to jail for 19 days and was belittled in the eyes of people,” he told reporters after his acquittal.
Even after being cleared by the law, he faced threats and lived in fear for significant periods, though he expressed a deep desire to finish his teaching career with dignity.
In November 2025, his struggle became public again when he sought financial assistance on social media, tearfully describing his inability to afford medical treatments and basic needs due to his deteriorating health and financial distress.
His death marks the end of a tragic chapter for an educator who spent 24 years in the classroom, only to spend his final years fighting for his reputation and his health.
