Dhaka University has suspended four professors over allegations linked to their conduct during last year’s July Mass Uprising, including claims that they labelled protesting students as “Razakars” and threatened demonstrators, marking one of the most significant disciplinary actions taken by the university since the political transition.
The decisions were taken at a syndicate meeting on Monday night chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam, as the university moved to address accusations that have remained a source of controversy on campus since the student-led movement.
The suspended teachers are Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah of the Department of Public Administration, Professor AKM Jamal Uddin of the Department of Sociology, Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam of the Department of Banking and Insurance, and Professor Dr Mohammad Azmal Hossain Bhuiyan of the Department of Botany.
A university official, Lavlu Molla Shishir, was also placed under provisional suspension over the same allegations.
University authorities said the suspensions were imposed on a temporary basis pending further proceedings.
The move comes nearly two years after the July Mass Uprising, during which a number of teachers faced criticism from students over their public statements and actions.
Allegations that some faculty members branded protesters as “Razakars” and sought to intimidate students became a major point of contention during and after the movement.
The university’s latest action signals a renewed effort to address unresolved complaints stemming from the turbulent period that reshaped the country’s political landscape and transformed power dynamics within public universities.
In a separate decision, the syndicate relieved Chowdury Md Tashrik-E-Habib of the Department of Bangla from all academic duties following a recommendation from the department’s academic council.
Tashrik-E-Habib had previously drawn widespread attention and criticism on social media over a series of viral singing videos, sparking debate within the university community over his conduct.
Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Dr Almujaddade Alfasane confirmed the decisions following the syndicate meeting.
The actions are expected to intensify debate over accountability for conduct during the July movement, a period that continues to shape academic and political discourse across the country’s higher education institutions.