BANGLADESH ALERT: Three Begum Rokeya University Teachers Permanently Dismissed Following Politically Motivated Crimes Against Humanity Convictions

JMBF Condemns the Politically Motivated Dismissals and Calls for an Independent Review of the Convictions, Immediate Release of Detained Professor Shariful Islam and Reinstatement of the Three Academics

Paris, France | 02 October 2026: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses grave concern and strong condemnation over the politically motivated permanent dismissal of three academics from Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur —Associate Professor Mashiur Rahman of the Department of Mathematics, Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Mondal (Asad) of the Department of Public Administration, and Associate Professor and former Proctor Shariful Islam of the Department of Political Science—following their convictions by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-2 in the case concerning the killing of student Abu Sayed.

JMBF firmly believes that the convictions of the three academics and their subsequent permanent dismissal raise serious concerns about politically motivated punishment and retaliation. JMBF is particularly concerned that criminal convictions based on fabricated allegations carrying the extraordinarily serious designation of crimes against humanity have now served as the basis for terminating their academic careers.

On 9 April 2026, the widely criticised International Crimes Tribunal-2 convicted the three academics in the case arising from the killing of Abu Sayed during the July 2024 protests. Mashiur Rahman and Asaduzzaman Mondal were each sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, while Shariful Islam was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.Shariful Islam is currently imprisoned, while Mashiur Rahman and Asaduzzaman Mondal have been reported as absconding.

On 30 September 2026, the 123rd meeting of the Begum Rokeya University Syndicate permanently dismissed the three teachers, along with eight university officials and employees. The university authorities have publicly stated that the Tribunal’s order was placed before the Syndicate after the university received a copy of it, following which the permanent dismissal decision was taken.

JMBF is deeply concerned that the Tribunal convictions and the subsequent administrative measures are part of a broader pattern of punitive action against academics on the basis of actual, alleged or perceived political affiliation. Criminal justice mechanisms—particularly proceedings involving allegations as grave as crimes against humanity—must never be used as instruments of political retaliation or to silence, punish or professionally exclude individuals because of their political identity, opinion or association.

The designation of conduct as a crime against humanity carries exceptionally grave legal and reputational consequences. Such charges must therefore be determined through proceedings that rigorously satisfy the requirements of independence, impartiality, individual criminal responsibility, due process and fair-trial guarantees. Political affiliation, institutional position, association or perceived political sympathy must never substitute for proof of individual criminal responsibility.

JMBF is equally alarmed by the permanent professional consequences imposed on the three academics. The dismissal of university teachers on the basis of convictions that JMBF considers politically motivated risks compounding the consequences of the criminal proceedings and creating a chilling effect across Bangladesh’s academic community.

The imprisonment of Associate Professor Shariful Islam is of particular concern. JMBF calls for his immediate and unconditional release, unless his continued detention can be justified through proceedings fully consistent with international fair-trial standards and based on credible evidence establishing individual criminal responsibility.

JMBF further stresses that academic freedom, institutional autonomy and the professional security of university teachers must be protected irrespective of their actual, alleged or perceived political opinions or affiliations. UNESCO standards recognise the importance of academic and intellectual freedom and the autonomy and professionalism of higher-education teaching personnel.

JMBF Calls Upon the Government of Bangladesh, Begum Rokeya University and Relevant Authorities To:

1. Ensure an independent, impartial and transparent review of the convictions of Associate Professor Mashiur Rahman, Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Mondal and Associate Professor Shariful Islam, with full respect for due process, individual criminal responsibility and internationally recognised fair-trial guarantees;

2. Immediately and unconditionally release Associate Professor Shariful Islam, unless the authorities can establish a lawful basis for his continued detention through proceedings meeting international human rights and fair-trial standards;

3. Review and reverse the permanent dismissal of the three academics if the disciplinary measures were imposed without an independent determination of individual responsibility and adequate procedural safeguards;

4. Ensure that Mashiur Rahman and Asaduzzaman Mondal are not subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, harassment or retaliation and guarantee their right to due process and a fair hearing;

5. Guarantee that no teacher, researcher, student or university employee is punished, dismissed, prosecuted or otherwise subjected to retaliation solely because of actual, alleged or perceived political affiliation, opinion or association;

6. Safeguard academic freedom, institutional autonomy and the professional independence of university teachersthroughout Bangladesh and prevent universities from becoming instruments of partisan punishment or political retaliation; and

7. Ensure that allegations of serious international crimes are investigated and prosecuted solely on the basis of credible evidence and individual criminal responsibility, through independent and impartial judicial processes free from political interference.

JMBF further urges the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), relevant UN Special Procedures, UNESCO, the European Union, international human rights and academic-freedom organisations, and diplomatic missions in Bangladesh to closely monitor the cases of the three academics and the broader use of criminal and disciplinary proceedings against university teachers in Bangladesh.

JMBF calls upon international actors to seek information from the Bangladeshi authorities regarding the fair-trial safeguards afforded to the convicted academics, the legal and evidentiary basis for their convictions, the circumstances of Shariful Islam’s continued imprisonment, and the procedures followed by Begum Rokeya University in permanently dismissing the three teachers.

Universities must remain spaces of knowledge, critical inquiry and intellectual freedom—not arenas for political retaliation. Criminal justice must be based on individual criminal responsibility and credible evidence, never political identity or association.

In Solidarity,

Advocate Shahanur Islam

Founder President

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)

CNB premises

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75008 Paris, France

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JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan international human rights organization registered in France under the French Association Law of 1901 (Registration No. W931027714), committed to defending human rights, promoting social justice, and empowering communities in Bangladesh and beyond. JMBF is officially registered in the European Union Transparency Register (REG No. 0635235105176-78).