Bangladesh: Educators Labeled 'Unwanted' for Backing Awami League, Prohibited from Teaching
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Synopsis
A group of educators at Dhaka University is facing an uncertain future after being prohibited from teaching due to alleged support for the ousted Awami League government. This situation highlights the ongoing political tensions under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
Key Takeaways
- Nearly 50 teachers suspended for alleged political support.
- Political vendetta evident in the university's actions.
- Indiscriminate suspensions reported across universities.
- 128 students suspended amid ongoing protests.
- Surge in political repression and violence in Bangladesh.
Dhaka, March 19 (NationPress) A number of educators at Dhaka University are facing an unpredictable future as they have been prohibited from conducting classes due to alleged support for the Awami League Government, which was removed in August 2024.
Approximately 50 educators from different faculties have been labeled as "unwanted" after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus accused them of backing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the July protests, according to local news outlets.
In what appears to be a clear instance of political retribution, the university authorities established "fact-finding committees" while suspending these educators from their academic roles. However, even months later, they have yet to be reinstated in the classroom.
Reports indicate that numerous educators and students at various universities throughout Bangladesh have faced indiscriminate suspensions following Yunus's ascent to power.
In a related matter on Monday, Dhaka University officials suspended 128 students for allegedly attacking fellow students who were protesting during the July unrest. Most of these students were affiliated with the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student faction of the Awami League, as reported by Bangladesh’s prominent newspaper Prothom Alo.
The interim government had imposed a ban on the BCL under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 in October 2024.
Ironically, this interim government lifted the ban on the radical Islamist group Jamaat-e-Islami and its student organization Islami Chhatra Shibir on August 28 of last year after assuming control.
The Yunus administration has been accused of repressing individuals who supported the democratic government led by Awami League and Hasina. Numerous media reports have highlighted political homicides involving several Awami League leaders, their families, and supporters since Hasina's removal.
Citing the surge in mob justice incidents during the interim administration, a human rights organization based in Dhaka, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), reported on a youth being fatally beaten at Dhaka University, which drew severe criticism nationwide. Abdullah Al Masud, a member of the Rajshahi University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, was killed on September 7, 2024, after being attacked in the Binodpur market near the university.
Bangladesh has experienced a rise in protest activities against the interim government in recent months, coinciding with a significant decline in the country’s law and order situation.
