On October 23, 2024, the Islamic University, Kushtia placed Hafizul Islam, an assistant professor of Developmental Studies, on a compulsory one year leave following student protests claiming that Islam is gay.

On October 7, a group of students from the Department of Development Studies gathered in front of the Islamic University’s administrative building to chant slogans and call for Islam’s dismissal. The students accused Islam of “supporting homosexuality” and of threatening students.

On October 8, Islamic University’s administration formed a committee to investigate the allegations.

On October 22, students from the Department of Development Studies organized a march on campus. During the protest, they hung an effigy of Islam and threw shoes at it. They later burned the effigy in front of the university’s main gate.

On October 23, the acting registrar of Islamic University issued a letter suspending Islam from all departmental activities for a period of one year, pending the results of the investigation.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the suspension of a scholar, apparently based on the scholar’s actual or perceived sexual orientation. Such actions erode freedom of association, freedom of expression, academic freedom, and university values including equitable access. University authorities have an obligation to protect, rather than diminish these rights on campus.

Update 7/21/25: On January 26, 2025, following an investigation by a committee formed by the university’s vice-chancellor, the acting registrar of Islamic University, Kushtia issued an official order placing Islam on a mandatory one year leave.

Sources:
https://76crimes.com/2024/10/28/academic-in-bangladesh-barred-from-teaching-after-anti-gay-protest/
https://voice7news.tv/education/news/15133
https://www.jmbf.org/2024/10/statement-jmbf-strongly-condemns_26.html
https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/bangladesh/khulna/ajpicskm0tmzp
https://www.jmbf.org/2025/01/press-public-statement-jmbf-strongly_29.html