JMBF Condemns Political Retaliation Against University Teachers and Calls for Accountability, Due Process, and Protection of Academic Freedom in Bangladesh
According to media reports and information obtained from JMBF’s own reliable sources, on 6 October, a group of political activists allegedly supportive of the current government, operating under the banner of “students and the general public,” forcibly entered Rajshahi Medical University and branded Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Jawadul Haque an “Awami League collaborator.” He was reportedly subjected to verbal abuse and physical assault before being forced to sign a pre-prepared resignation letter. Similarly, Section Officer and Personal Secretary to the Vice-Chancellor, Nazmul Hossain, was also forced to resign and was reportedly beaten when he refused to comply. Computer CPUs and CCTV-related equipment were removed from the Vice-Chancellor’s office, while the campus’s electricity and internet connections were disconnected.
Meanwhile, at a Syndicate meeting held on 30 September, the University of Dhaka authorities decided to temporarily suspend Professor Zeenat Huda. The decision was based on allegations concerning her purported “role against the July uprising” and the recommendations of an investigation committee. The Syndicate also decided to establish a tribunal for further proceedings. Professor Zeenat Huda is the Acting Convener of the Awami League-aligned Blue Panel of teachers.
JMBF firmly believes that where credible allegations of a specific criminal offence, corruption, or professional misconduct exist against any teacher or university official, such allegations must be subject to an independent and impartial investigation and addressed in accordance with the law and applicable university regulations. However, political identity, ideology, past political positions, or vague political labels such as “collaborator” must never serve as grounds for punishment, dismissal, humiliation, physical assault, or coercion.
Article 27 of the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law, while Article 31 guarantees every person the right to the protection of the law and provides that no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation, or property of any person may be taken except in accordance with the law. Similarly, Article 39 guarantees freedom of thought and conscience and, subject to lawful restrictions, freedom of expression.
International human rights law provides similar protections. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) recognises everyone’s right to hold opinions without interference and to freedom of expression. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has also recognised freedom of opinion and expression as an indispensable foundation of a free and democratic society.
The situation is particularly serious in the context of universities. The UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel (1997) recognises academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the professional rights of higher-education teaching personnel as important international standards. A culture in which teachers and university officials are assessed, removed, or punished on the basis of political allegiance creates a serious risk of transforming universities from institutions of independent scholarship into arenas of political retaliation and control.
Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), Advocate Shahanur Islam, stated:
“Political identity, ideology, or dissenting views can never constitute legitimate grounds for physically assaulting a teacher or university official, forcing them to resign, or subjecting them to professional sanctions without due process. When universities are used as arenas for political retaliation and intimidation, this not only violates the fundamental rights of the individuals concerned but also seriously undermines academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the rule of law.”
He further stated:
“Past injustices cannot be remedied through new injustices, retaliation, or political persecution. The State has a responsibility to ensure the safety, dignity, freedom of expression, and right to due process of every teacher and university official, irrespective of political identity. Those responsible for the incident at Rajshahi Medical University must be held accountable through an independent and impartial investigation, while the temporary suspension of Professor Zeenat Huda should be withdrawn. If there are specific allegations against her, they must be addressed through a transparent, independent, and fair process.”
JMBF’s Urgent Demands
JMBF calls upon the Government of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission, and the relevant university authorities to:
- Conduct an immediate, independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident at Rajshahi Medical University and ensure accountability for those responsible for the alleged forcible entry, physical assault, intimidation, coercion, and removal of university property;
- Reject as invalid any resignation obtained through force, threat, or intimidation and ensure the safety and professional rights of Professor Dr. Md. Jawadul Haque and the other officials affected;
- Immediately withdraw the temporary suspension of Professor Zeenat Huda and ensure that any specific allegations against her are addressed through a fair, transparent, and impartial process, with an adequate opportunity for her to respond to the allegations and defend herself;
- End all forms of politically motivated retaliation within universities, including harassment, physical violence, forced resignation, dismissal, or other professional sanctions based solely on actual or perceived political affiliation, ideology, or labels such as “collaborator”; and
- Safeguard academic freedom and institutional autonomy across Bangladesh and ensure that all teachers, officials, and students can exercise their lawful freedoms of opinion and expression without fear of violence, intimidation, discrimination, or professional reprisal.
JMBF further calls upon the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education, UNESCO, the European Union, international human rights organisations, and foreign diplomatic missions in Bangladesh to closely monitor these developments and engage with the Government of Bangladesh to promote effective measures to protect academic freedom, institutional autonomy, due process, and the safety and professional rights of university teachers and officials.
In solidarity,
Ms. Jannatul Ferdous
Assistant Secretary General
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
CNB premises
180 Boulevard Haussmann, 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).
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