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DHAKA: The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) held a seminar titled “Bullying vs Academic Freedom: The Politics of Imposition and Othering” at Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus, discussing power imbalances, alleged abuse of authority by teachers, elitism, Islamophobia, class-based and racial discrimination, and the protection of students’ dignity and rights.
Writer and researcher Dr Fahmid Ur Rahman, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, and writer and researcher Jannate Gulshan took part in the discussion.
DUCSU Common Room, Reading Room and Cafeteria Secretary Umme Salma, a student of the university’s Department of English, chaired the seminar. DUCSU executive member Anas Ibn Munir moderated it.
Dr Fahmid Ur Rahman highlighted power imbalances and elitist practices in the university’s academic environment. He said universities were not merely institutions for pursuing knowledge but also spaces where students’ human dignity, freedom of expression and equal rights should be upheld.
He called on students to speak out against conduct that undermines their freedom and rights, particularly when those responsible also advocate individual liberty.
He also discussed how Islamophobic attitudes and disrespectful behaviour towards Muslim students could sometimes emerge under the guise of liberalism. Allegations of humiliation and discrimination based on students’ socioeconomic backgrounds, clothing, personal hygiene and religious identities also featured in the discussion.
AB Party General Secretary Barrister Fuad discussed the history of the University of Dhaka, its historical context in expanding educational opportunities for the Muslim community, and various aspects of its present institutional culture. The discussion also addressed the university’s historical background, power structures, and questions of identity and discrimination in academic settings.
Jannate Gulshan raised documented allegations of a tendency to view Islamic symbols and religious attire negatively in the university’s academic environment, as well as discrimination among students based on their clothing. She stressed the need to ensure equal dignity for all students, regardless of religious identity or attire, and to end discriminatory attitudes.
Drawing on students’ experiences and observations, participants discussed class-based discrimination, humiliating remarks, and questions of professional and ethical accountability in teachers’ conduct.
Allegations included taunts about students’ socioeconomic circumstances, derogatory comments about personal hygiene, and disparaging treatment based on clothing and religious identity. Such behaviour, participants noted, could undermine students’ dignity and their right to a safe learning environment.
Seminar chair Umme Salma highlighted allegations of bullying, Islamophobia, class discrimination and racist behaviour against students of the Department of English, along with various protests organised in response.
The discussion referred in particular to students displaying red cards and wearing black masks to protest against alleged discrimination and demand a dignified, discrimination-free academic environment.
Speakers stressed the need to foster respectful, accountable and non-discriminatory relationships between teachers and students.
They called for students’ complaints to be examined impartially, professional standards to be upheld in teachers’ conduct, institutional authority to be exercised responsibly, and appropriate action to be taken in response to substantiated allegations.
The speakers said protecting academic freedom and freedom of expression must go hand in hand with safeguarding students’ dignity, religious freedom and right to protection from discrimination.
As part of the post-seminar activities, 100 copies of “Frantz Fanon, Hijab and Colonialism”, written by Dr Fahmid Ur Rahman, were distributed on behalf of seminar chair Umme Salma.
The seminar provided a platform to discuss allegations of bullying and discrimination in the university’s academic environment, students’ rights, and the need for accountability in teacher-student relations.