DU prof faces disciplinary action over alleged remarks on student’s hijab

Dhaka University’s English Department has taken disciplinary action against Associate Professor Tasnim Siraj Mahbub after students accused her of calling a niqab-wearing student a “fundamentalist” and “terrorist” and making objectionable remarks about her attire.

The department’s emergency academic committee on Wednesday decided to reallocate all courses taught by Tasnim to other faculty members, effectively removing her from teaching those courses.

The committee took the decision following a written complaint submitted by students, said English Department Chairman Prof Tazin Aziz Chowdhury.

“An emergency academic committee meeting was held based on a written complaint from the students. A resolution was taken in the meeting in view of the students’ complaints and recent incidents,” she said.

“Based on that resolution, the concerned teacher has now been reallocated from her courses and the courses have been given to other teachers,” Prof Tazin said.

She, however, said the departmental academic committee does not have the authority to impose final disciplinary punishment on a teacher.

The matter will be brought to the attention of the university’s higher authorities, she said, adding that the Vice-Chancellor, Academic Council and Syndicate have jurisdiction to take further disciplinary action.