Outrage at Islamic University as students seek dismissal of teacher who made offensive remarks on female protesters' clothing
Students of the Islamic University (IU) staged a demonstration on Wednesday (29 October), protesting disparaging comments made by a teacher about the clothing of female students who were protesting the killing of their fellow, Sajid Abdullah.
The protest, which began around 11am in front of the university's administration building, continued for more than two hours. Over a hundred students, along with leaders and activists from various student organisations, joined the demonstration.
The accused teacher, Professor Dr Nasir Uddin Mizhi, is the chairman of the Department of Al-Quran and Islamic Studies and a member of the Green Forum, a teachers' organisation.
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The protesting students formed a human chain and submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor Professor Naqib Mohammad Nasrullah with five demands, including the teacher's dismissal.
The other demands include immediate arrest of Sajid Abdullah's killers; action against those who have threatened the protesting students; formation of a probe committee within 72 hours to investigate those who tried to obstruct student protests, and exemplary punishment for them; and ensuring students' right to freedom of expression and protest.
Viral audio sparks outrage
An audio clip lasting 4 minutes and 7 seconds, containing offensive remarks made by the teacher about the attire of female students participating in a protest, was uploaded on Facebook around 11:30pm on Tuesday from an account under Abdullah Bin Asad, according to media reports.
The clip quickly spread across social media, triggering widespread anger among students on campus and online.
In the leaked recording, Nasir Uddin can be heard in an angry tone reprimanding a female student involved in protests demanding justice for Sajid's killing. He is also heard making objectionable comments about Sajid and the protesting female students.
Following the outrage, Professor Nasir Uddin told reporters on Wednesday morning that his remarks were a "slip of the tongue."
"As chairman of the Al-Quran Department, I joined the movement demanding justice for shaheed Sajid Abdullah along with the department's students and teachers. I personally initiated the case registration from my office. I have been in constant contact with the vice-chancellor, pro-vice-chancellor, and the IU police station officer-in-charge to move the issue forward administratively.
"However, while speaking with another teacher and one of my students, I made a poor choice of words. For that, I am sincerely sorry and offer my unconditional apology."
During Wednesday's protest, speakers said the university should remain a place of free thought and knowledge, and that any interference with students' freedom of clothing is unethical and unacceptable.
They asserted that no teacher has the right to make indecent remarks about a female student's attire.
Zarin Tasnim Pushpa, a student of the Folklore Studies Department, said, "You asked why I was given the microphone! But I want to ask why we still have to speak out even after 104 days? My brother was murdered, I want justice. By making offensive comments about me, you have demeaned our movement. The administration must take action against you."
Receiving the memorandum, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Naqib Mohammad Nasrullah said, "If any teacher has insulted a student, I want to express my sincere regret for that. Everyone has the right to speak, but no one has the right to insult others. Measures will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
"Upon receiving a written complaint, the administration will take appropriate action."
In their memorandum, students alleged that 104 days have passed since Sajid's murder, yet no suspects have been arrested and the trial process remains uncertain. They accused Professor Nasir Uddin of making demeaning comments about the deceased, quoting him as saying, "Who knows where that dead boy came from, anyway he's gone."
They also claimed he made offensive remarks about female students' attire, violating the ethical standards expected of a teacher.
Student wings Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Chhatra Union also issued statements condemning Nasir Uddin's comments and demanding that he be held accountable, according to media reports.
On 17 July, the body of Sajid Abdullah, a student of the 2021-22 academic year in the Department of Al-Quran and Islamic Studies, was recovered from the pond of Shah Azizur Rahman Hall.
A viscera report later confirmed that he had been strangled to death. Students have been staging protests for justice ever since.
