It is hard to imagine the level of humiliation and agony principal Salim Reza of Rajbari Degree College in Rajshahi has been forced to endure. First, he was assaulted, and then was forced to issue a denial by the same person who assaulted him. It can only happen if the alleged perpetrator turns out to be so powerful that protesting an assault or defiance for telling the truth means losing what else the victim is left with, such as safety and dignity of other members of his family and his livelihood. Reports suggest both the incidents took place at the same venue, the private chamber of the local MP Omor Faruk Chaowdhury. Salim was assaulted by the MPin front of other principals of different colleges in his constituency. And the second event was so surreal that he had to read a prepared statement to the assembled press, sitting beside the same MP, denying his ordeal at the hands of the host.  Principal Salim Reza’s denial statement is only comparable to those so-called admiss...