Paris, Jan 21: A leading international human rights organisation has strongly condemned the dismissal of two teachers from a private university in Bangladesh over alleged blasphemy, warning that the incident poses a serious threat to academic freedom and freedom of expression in the country.
The University of Asia Pacific (UAP) in Dhaka dismissed Assistant Professor Layeka Bashir and Associate Professor ASM Mohsin—who also served as head of the Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities—on January 18 following protests by extremist student groups over alleged “blasphemous” remarks.
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a Paris-based human rights organisation, said the dismissals were carried out under pressure from organised mobs and without due process. In a statement, JMBF noted that the university authorities acted before the completion of a transparent investigation and denied the accused teachers any meaningful opportunity to defend themselves. Such actions, it said, violate the Constitution of Bangladesh, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, fundamental principles of justice, and internationally recognised norms of academic freedom.
The organisation expressed particular concern that the termination orders were issued while an internal investigation committee was still reviewing the allegations. “The accused teachers were removed arbitrarily, without legal safeguards, and in complete disregard of procedural fairness,” the group stated.
JMBF’s Chief Advisor, prominent French human rights activist Robert John Paul Simon, warned that branding educators as “Islamophobic” for expressing personal views on social media and mobilising mobs against them sets a “terrifying precedent.” “The university chose to appease organised intimidation rather than protect the safety, dignity, and rights of its teachers,” he said.
According to JMBF, the incident goes beyond an individual injustice and risks undermining Bangladesh’s entire education system. “If teachers can be dismissed under mob pressure, academics will no longer be able to think freely, conduct research, or express opinions without fear,” the organisation warned.
The rights body demanded the immediate suspension and revocation of the dismissal orders and called for the establishment of an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation commission meeting international standards. It also urged authorities to ensure the safety and dignity of the two teachers.
Emphasising that justice cannot be dictated by mob rule, JMBF cautioned that the continued use of religion as a political weapon to silence dissent would only deepen fear, division, and violence across Bangladeshi society.
