Human Rights Watch (HRW) has alleged that scores of academics and students at Bangladesh’s public universities have faced arbitrary punitive measures over their alleged ties to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the New York-based rights organisation said dismissals, suspensions, teaching restrictions, expulsions and other disciplinary actions have been taken against teachers and students accused of supporting the Awami League or opposing the 2024 student-led movement that led to Hasina’s ouster.
HRW said such actions, if carried out without due process or solely on the basis of political beliefs, would violate the rights to freedom of expression and association protected under international human rights law.
“Bangladesh has a long history of political debate in its universities, and only autocrats should fear such discourse, not a government formed following student protests,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. She urged the authorities not to repeat past practices of political repression in academic institutions.
According to HRW, disciplinary measures have affected academics and students at more than 20 public universities. The organisation said over 400 academics from 22 universities who were allegedly members of a pro-Awami League Telegram messaging group have also come under investigation.
The report said newly appointed authorities at Dhaka University ordered dozens of academics to stop working or restricted their teaching activities from September 2024, while similar steps were taken at Bangladesh Agricultural University and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.
HRW alleged that some of these actions were taken without transparent disciplinary proceedings or in ways inconsistent with established university rules.
The rights organisation also raised concerns over action against students accused of involvement in attacks on protesters during the 2024 movement. It said Dhaka University temporarily suspended 126 students and withheld their academic certificates, while many others stayed away from campus fearing arrest.
It cited several individual cases, including that of Professor Mashiur Rahman of Dhaka University and academics at Bangladesh Agricultural University, who it said faced disciplinary action based on allegations they dispute. It noted that Bangladesh’s universities have long faced allegations of political influence, with successive governments accused of favouring academics aligned with the ruling party while taking action against rivals.
At the same time, HRW noted that three academics have been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal on crimes against humanity charges, while another academic is awaiting trial.
“Any acts of revenge against people who peacefully supported the previous government would show that freedoms of speech and assembly are not protected,” Ganguly said. “Universities should be places where people are free to express their views, not places where support is enforced for the government of the day.”
