A university vice-chancellor was allegedly forced to sign a resignation letter inside his office. A college principal was prevented from entering his institution. Teachers were pushed and assaulted amid demands for their removal.
More than two years after forced resignations and attacks on teachers emerged as a major concern across educational institutions, fresh incidents suggest the problem is far from over, despite repeated government directives intended to protect affected teachers and restore their jobs and salaries.
The Alliance of Deprived Institution Heads and Teachers estimates that around 4,500 teachers and heads of institutions have been affected since 2024.
It claims at least eight teachers died following physical or psychological trauma, more than 500 were injured or fell ill, and over 1,000 are still not receiving salaries or allowances.
The figures could not be independently verified.
The latest incident occurred at Rajshahi Medical University on Tuesday, when Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Jawadul Haque was allegedly forced to sign a resignation letter after a group entered his office while he was attending a virtual meeting with Health Ministry officials.
His personal secretary and section officer Nazmul Hossain was allegedly assaulted when he intervened and was also forced to sign a resignation letter.
Nazmul later filed a case with Rajpara Police Station. Police arrested Abdus Salam, 56, in connection with the incident.
Police initially said Salam’s political affiliation had not been confirmed.
Rajpara Thana BNP President Mizanur Rahman, however, told media that Salam was a vice-president of the thana BNP unit and had been present during the incident.
Another confrontation at a college
The RMU incident came less than two weeks after tensions at Mohammadpur Central College, where teachers alleged that students and outsiders obstructed Principal Lt Col (retd) Md Shahidul Hasan and harassed teachers.
On September 24, some students and outsiders allegedly locked the administrative building gate and demanded the principal’s removal amid tensions surrounding a Class XI orientation program.
Bangla lecturer Shawon Ahmed Kabir was allegedly pushed while trying to calm the situation, while teacher representative Dr Mohammad Shamsul Alam was also allegedly assaulted.
Teachers later submitted a written complaint seeking action, and the college governing body assured them that the allegations would be investigated.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal subsequently expelled two members over allegations linked to the incident.
‘More than 1,000 still without pay’
Teacher representatives say such incidents form part of a much broader problem dating back to the political upheaval of 2024.
Alliance convener Anwarul Islam Talukder said more than 1,000 affected teachers were still not receiving salaries or allowances, while many had been unable to return to their institutions for more than a year.
“We have repeatedly approached the Education Ministry and the Secondary and Higher Education Division, but there has been little progress,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
The government has issued a series of directives since reports of forced resignations began emerging.
The Education Ministry said in September 2024 that forcing teachers to resign was unacceptable.
Further instructions followed concerning salaries and allowances, reinstatement and action against institutions that failed to comply.
Teacher representatives, however, say implementation remains incomplete.
Anwarul Islam, principal of Suapur Nannar School and College in Dhamrai, said he was among those forced from office after August 2024.
He alleged that a group of teachers and students accused him of irregularities on August 11 and demanded his resignation.
The following day, he said, around 15 people went to his Mirpur residence and forced him to sign a resignation letter.
Former Dhaka City College principal and alliance president Md Bedar Uddin Ahmed said the organization had repeatedly submitted complaints and memorandums to government offices.
“Despite government directives, many teachers are still unable to return to their workplaces,” he said.
Teachers from other institutions, including Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, have also previously alleged that they were forced to resign following the events of August 2024.
Acting principal Keka Roy and assistant professor Dr Farhana Khanam were among those who made such allegations.
UN expert to examine allegations
The issue is now set to receive international scrutiny.
UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education Farida Shaheed is scheduled to visit Bangladesh from November 23 to December 4, according to information provided by the teachers’ alliance and reported by media.
The group says she will examine allegations involving teachers and students who faced mob attacks at educational institutions after August 5, 2024, with the Unesco Dhaka office assisting during the visit.
The alliance said affected teachers have submitted complaints and supporting materials for the process, including information on their employment status, cases, photographs, videos and audio recordings.
The exact number of complaints submitted has not been established.
‘Complaints need due process’
Educationist Rasheda K Chowdhury said attacks and harassment of teachers, alongside disputes over salaries, allowances and professional dignity, reflected a broader crisis of confidence in the education system.
“If we want quality education, we need quality teachers,” she said, stressing the importance of both investment in and respect for the profession.
Prof Mohammad Mujibur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Institute of Education and Research said allegations against teachers should be investigated through due process, with teachers given an opportunity to respond before decisions are taken.
“Firstly, teachers need to act independently. Again, our perspective has yet to evolve. As a nation, we still fail to recognize the importance of education and those who teach,” he told Dhaka Tribune.
Educationists stressed that complaints against teachers or disputes over institutional decisions should not be ignored.
Allegations of misconduct or irregularities should be investigated and, where substantiated, acted upon.
But they said those processes should take place through established institutional and legal procedures, rather than physical intimidation, humiliation or forcing teachers to sign resignation letters.
