DU English teacher relieved of duties over calling niqab-wearing student 'fundamentalist', 'terrorist'
Associate Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob’s two courses have been reassigned following student complaints over alleged remarks made during a postgraduate class.
A Dhaka University English Department teacher has been relieved of teaching duties after students accused the faculty member of calling a niqab-wearing student a "fundamentalist" and "terrorist" during a postgraduate class.
Following the complaints, the department's Academic Committee today (8 October) recommended that Associate Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob be kept off teaching duties and that the university administration investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.
English Department Chairman Professor Tazin Aziz Chaudhury confirmed the development to The Business Standard this afternoon.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"We held an emergency Academic Committee meeting following complaints from students. The classes and tutorials of the two courses taught by the teacher have been assigned to another teacher," she said.
She added that the committee had also recommended that the university administration properly investigate the complaints and take necessary action.
DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane told TBS that the department had forwarded its recommendation to the university authorities.
"The university will conduct an investigation and take the necessary decision," he said.
The allegations surfaced after English Department student Sumi Akter wrote about the classroom incident in a Facebook post yesterday.
According to Sumi's account, Tasneem made comments about students' financial backgrounds and clothing at the beginning of the postgraduate class.
She alleged that the teacher then told a student wearing a niqab that there was no need to cover her face and that she did not need to cover her hands and feet either.
Tasneem allegedly said the student's niqab made her feel "uncomfortable", "unsafe" and "distracted", and asked the student to sit at the back of the classroom.
Sumi further alleged that the teacher asked how anyone could be certain that the niqab-wearing student was not a "fundamentalist" or "terrorist".
She also alleged that Tasneem said someone wearing a niqab could attack her.
The allegations have not been independently verified by TBS.
Earlier today, around 12:30pm, a group of female students led by Ducsu Common Room, Reading Room and Cafeteria Secretary Umme Salma submitted a written complaint to the pro-vice-chancellor.
They placed five demands, including the permanent expulsion of Tasneem from the university.
Later in the afternoon, leaders of the Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatri Sangstha formed a human chain at the foot of the Raju Memorial Sculpture, demanding legal action against the teacher.
The department's Academic Committee has now recommended that the university administration investigate the complaints and take a decision based on its findings.
