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Published : 30 Oct 2025, 02:29 AM
Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) General Secretary SM Farhad has walked out of a seminar after calling a political science professor a “patron of fascism”.
Representatives from Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) and Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) have also left the event after delivering their address.
The walkouts happened on Wednesday at a seminar titled “July Charter: Youth Policy Dialogue” held at the seminar room on the seventh floor of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The event was organised by the faculty’s Applied Democracy Lab.
During his remarks, Farhad accused Prof Aynul Islam of supporting “fascism” and said it was “shameful” for him to be present at the event.
“We have enough documents to prove that he was an associate of the ‘fascist’ Awami League,” Farhad said before leaving the room. “It is disgraceful that a teacher associated with Awami League is here. Since he is present, we are walking out,” he added.
He also said, “The discussion was supposed to be about the July Charter, yet a teacher who stands against it is present here.”
Before the walkout, RUCSU General Secretary Salauddin Ammar and JUCSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam spoke as panel discussants.
DUCSU Vice-President Shadik Kayem was also scheduled to attend as a student representative but did not appear.
Prof Aynul, who heads the Applied Democracy Lab and served as an election officer during the DUCSU polls, told reporters later that none of the student representatives had objected to his presence before the incident.
After the student leaders left, other guests continued with the dialogue.
The session featured National Consensus Commission member Badiul Alam Majumdar, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof Sayema Haque Bidisha, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Prof Taiabur Rahman, and North South University faculty member Mahbubur Rahman.
The keynote speech was delivered by Sumit Bisarya from the Netherlands-based International IDEA.
A video of the incident has later circulated on social media showing Farhad calling the teacher a “fascist” and claiming to have documents proving his ties with the Awami League.
Speaking afterwards, Prof Aynul said: “All student representatives, including Forhad, spoke at the seminar. But towards the end, he suddenly stood up and said these things. I was surprised. I was called a supporter of dictatorship, which I am not.
“I regularly work on human rights and democracy. This is defamation. I asked him for proof. I said I never signed anything. I was involved in the DUCSU election, and nobody questioned me then.”
The allegation against him stems from a 2023 statement reportedly signed by 866 teachers aligned with the pro-Awami League Blue Panel, expressing support for legal action taken against Muhammad Yunus.
Prof Aynul’s name appeared at number 310 on that list.
He, however, denied the accusation, saying he did not sign any such statement in 2023.
