Dhaka University English department Associate Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob has sought an opportunity to explain her remarks about a niqab-wearing student in a classroom and called for an impartial investigation, while expressing concern over threats and harassment following the incident.
In a written statement read out during a Facebook Live session on her page on Saturday afternoon, she said she wanted the university authorities to hear her explanation and examine statements from all concerned before reaching a decision.
Tasneem said the incident occurred during a master's final semester class on October 7, when she had difficulty immediately identifying a student whose entire face, including her eyes, was covered. The lack of eye contact, she said, made it difficult to understand how the student was receiving her remarks and participating in classroom activities.
She said she raised the issue because she did not feel comfortable teaching under those circumstances.
Tasneem said she had upheld religious values and observances throughout her nearly 34-year teaching career and denied intending to insult any student's religious beliefs or clothing.
Explaining her discussion of Islamic rules on veiling, she said that, based on her understanding after reading translations of the Quran, women could wear modest clothing that did not reveal their body shape while keeping their faces visible. She also referred to religious interpretations and a hadith concerning women not wearing niqabs while in the state of ihram during Hajj.
She claimed she had not instructed the student to change her clothes, remove her niqab or leave the classroom. She also said the student had not been punished for wearing religious clothing or barred from attending future classes.
According to Tasneem, her remarks concerned the difficulty of identifying the student because her eyes were covered.
She said that after the student left the classroom, she learned from classmates that her remarks had hurt the student. She then sent messages through classmates on 3 occasions expressing a wish to apologize and waited in the corridor for about 10 minutes, but the student did not come to speak with her, preventing a direct apology.
Tasneem also said she had to leave for the hospital urgently on the day of the incident because a family member was seriously ill and undergoing surgery. During that time, she learned that her remarks were being circulated in a distorted form.
Regarding the English department's response, she said all her courses had been distributed among other teachers based on students' written complaints without her statement being heard. She said she was distressed that the decision had been made before she had an opportunity to explain her position.
She called for an impartial examination of the incident based on statements from all concerned and relevant information, adding that she was prepared to cooperate with the process.
Expressing concern for her personal safety, Tasneem said she had received anonymous phone calls, emails, offensive messages and threats following the incident. She sought the university authorities' assistance in ensuring the dignity and safety of everyone involved, including the student, and preventing threats and harassment.
Earlier, on Thursday, a group of female students from the English department submitted a written complaint about the incident to the university's proctor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Dr Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane.
In their complaint, the students demanded an impartial investigation and the permanent expulsion of Tasneem from the university if the allegations were proven. They also sought an unconditional apology to students of the batch concerned and her removal from teaching and academic assessment involving those students.
The students further called for measures to ensure that no student suffered academic harm, harassment or retaliation.
Subsequently, activists of the Dhaka University branch of Bangladesh Islami Chhatri Sangstha held a human chain at the foot of the Raju Sculpture, demanding legal action against the teacher.
English department Chairperson Dr Tazin Aziz Chaudhury said an emergency academic committee meeting had been held following the students' written complaints. According to the meeting's decision, Tasneem's courses had been distributed among other teachers, and she would not be allowed to conduct classes for any course for the time being.
In her statement, Tasneem said classrooms should be respectful and safe spaces for both teachers and students. She added that when identity verification was necessary, it should be carried out under clear institutional policies that respected religious beliefs, personal dignity and privacy.