Teachers’ Network calls for return of dismissed faculty amid ‘blasphemy’ row

They allege that teachers are being harassed for expressing opinions, with religious sentiment often used as a shield

The University Teachers’ Network has demanded the reinstatement of two teachers who were dismissed by the University of Asia Pacific authorities following student protests over allegations of “blasphemy”.

The platform of public and private university teachers raised the demand on Wednesday at a press conference at the National Press Club.

Dhaka University sociology Prof Samina Luthfa read out the written statement at the briefing.

“The crisis of academic freedom has always been acute in Bangladesh. The rulers and those in power try to strangle institutional freedom and forced everyone to speak in the same tone,” she said.

The statement pointed out the hope ignited by the July Uprising in people about restoring democracy and protecting freedom of speech.

“Ensuring institutional independence is an expression of that democratic value system and the nurturing of free speech, which is intrinsically linked to the very core concept of a university,” the statement said.

“The freedom of thought and expression, along with the convergence of diverse opinions and paths, is what has distinguished universities worldwide from other social institutions,” it added.

In the statement, the teachers bemoaned that a quarter is trying to destroy the democratic values and the fundamental principles of the university in post-Uprising Bangladesh.

They alleged that this group uses religion as a weapon to suppress dissent and gain power aggressively. The group is exploiting university campuses.

Many teachers are being harassed and mistreated simply for expressing independent opinions or holding different views, they added, and in almost every case, religious sentiment has been broadly used as a shield.

“The latest victims of this trend are the two teachers at the private University of Asia Pacific in the capital,” the statement added.

The UAP administration on Sunday issued dismissal notices to Assistant Prof Layeqa Bashir of the Department of Basic Sciences & Humanities and Associate Professor ASM Mohsin, the department head.

Layeqa was accused of harassing a student for wearing a hijab. Students have also accused Mohsin of having links with the Awami League. Mohsin reacted with a ‘ha ha’ emoji to a post about Hadi’s shooting, the students alleged.

On Tuesday, protesting students made 16 demands, including the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan.

Layeqa told bdnews24.com that she had been dismissed without explanation.

Mohsin also denied the allegations against him, saying he had been dismissed without being given any reason. He said the Facebook post he was accused of reacting to could not be found.

The University Teachers’ Network says that Layeqa is a victim of a “conspiracy”.

The teachers called the dismissal “illegal and injustice”.

The network placed four demands, including the reinstatement of the dismissed teachers. Their other demands include action against those who mobilised “mob” against the teacher.