Police last night arrested two individuals over the demolition of a Shaheed Minar at Kaminidanga Secondary Girls' School in Manirampur upazila, Jashore, to construct a toilet.

Nur Mohammad Gazi, officer-in-charge (OC) of Manirampur Police Station, said Abdur Rashid, 55, headmaster of Kusharikona Government Primary School, and his associate Sukumar Mallick, 65, of Kaminidanga village, were arrested on charges of vandalism.

Kamrul Hasan, an assistant teacher at the girls' school, filed the case with a Jashore court against Rashid and Mallick on February 11. The court took cognisance of the matter and issued arrest warrants against the accused.

Kaminidanga Secondary Girls' School and Kusharikona Government Primary School share the same field. The Shaheed Minar, built by the girls' school 30 years ago in a corner of the field, has been used by teachers and students of both institutions to pay tribute to martyrs on Victory Day, International Mother Language Day, and Independence Day.

On January 15, Abdur Rashid allegedly demolished the Shaheed Minar and built a toilet in its place, ignoring objections from the girls' school.

The incident sparked widespread dissatisfaction among teachers, staff, and students.

Following a complaint filed with the upazila executive officer (UNO), Primary Education Officer Abu Mottalib Alam conducted an on-site investigation.

After verifying the allegations, a show-cause notice was issued to the headmaster.