SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: October 27, 2024

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Rajshahi Government Women’s College

Region & Country:Southern Asia | Bangladesh

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On October 27, 2024, Rajshahi Government Women’s College (RGWC) students beat a member of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on campus.

The BCL is the student wing of the former ruling party, the Awami League. In October 2024, Bangladesh’s interim government deemed the group a terrorist organization and banned it. The BCL member who was beaten, Jannatul Ferdous Priya, is the BCL’s environmental secretary. She is accused of several activities, including in an explosive case, engaging in dorm seat trading, and harassing students.

Upon recognizing Priya on campus, several students notified RCWC principal Professor Zubaida Ayesha Siddika, who called the police. Prior to and during Priya’s arrest, several RCWC students punched her multiple times.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent attacks by students against other students. Scholars at Risk calls on all parties to exercise restraint and to avoid violence. State authorities have the right and obligation to maintain order, which they must with due regard for the rights of protesters and others, including the rights to free expression, academic freedom, peaceful assembly, and due process.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/politics/female-bcl-leader-detained-during-exam-at-rajshahi-womens-college
https://www.newagebd.net/post/politics/248853/bcl-activist-beaten-handed-over-to-police
https://www.observerbd.com/news/496847
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime/rajshahi-bcl-leader-accused-explosive-case-ends-jail-exam-centre-977676
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/female-bcl-leader-detained-during-exam-rajshahi-womens-college-3738391