Expelled transgender student demands reinstatement at Metropolitan University in Sylhet
Transgender student Sahara Chowdhury, who was expelled from Sylhet's Metropolitan University, has demanded reinstatement, alleging that her expulsion was "unconstitutional" and carried out without due process.
In a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) today (22 August), Sahara said she was expelled on 13 August after publishing satirical cartoons mocking Mohammad Sorowar Hossain, associate professor at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), and Asif Mahtab Utsha, lecturer at Manarat International University.
"On 11 August, I published satirical cartoons of Sarowar and Mahtab. My work was an expression of anger — both mine and my trans community's — whose lives are under constant attack," she said.
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She accused Sarowar and Mahtab of doxxing LGBT people and campaigning to block the recognition of transgender martyrs of the July uprising in government records.
Sahara said the university expelled her without issuing a disciplinary hearing or following proper procedure.
"I learned of my lifetime expulsion only from a publicly released notice. As far as I know, a lifetime expulsion from university is unconstitutional," she added.
She also rejected claims that she threatened other students, saying her words were deliberately distorted.
"After July, some people, in an unofficial student group chat, shared videos mocking the death of Bangladeshi trans woman Shila and stabbings of other trans women. When I protested, they threatened me with physical harm. I reminded them that my profile picture indicates when I am usually outside. They would have no trouble finding me if they really wanted to attack.
"But they twisted this and claimed that I had threatened them. I was labeled a terrorist and accused of threatening other students, as well as of endangering others by 'revealing the university bus schedule.' In reality, I had only mentioned that I usually wait for transport near the Tilagor Overbridge. My campus is in Peerer Bazar. I never referred to the university bus, and most of the time I use public buses," she said.
Sahara said she is seeking reinstatement at the university, compensation for what she described as unconstitutional expulsion, and equal standards of freedom of expression for minority voices.
