Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused public universities in Bangladesh of taking punitive action against teachers and students over their alleged links to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League. The rights organisation says some of the measures were imposed without transparent investigations or opportunities for those accused to defend themselves.

In a report released from London on November 3, HRW said such actions could violate international human rights law, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and association. The organisation said more than 20 public universities had been affected since the fall of the Hasina government in August 2024.

Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at HRW, said Bangladesh's universities had a long history of political debate. She argued that a government formed through a student movement should not repeat the repressive practices of previous administrations.

Disciplinary actions at public universities

At the University of Dhaka, at least 44 teachers were ordered to stop academic and administrative activities without what HRW described as transparent investigations. Six were subsequently temporarily suspended, while investigations began against another 14.

The university also temporarily suspended 126 students and withheld their academic certificates in March 2025. HRW said many of the students accused of involvement in violence denied the allegations and had not been given an opportunity to respond.

At Bangladesh Agricultural University, 12 teachers were dismissed, suspended or removed from their positions, while the activities of another 34 were restricted.

At Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, 12 teachers were temporarily suspended, another 10 were removed from academic activities and 85 teachers were denied promotions.

Cases cited by HRW

The report highlighted the case of Professor Mashiur Rahman of the University of Dhaka's Sociology Department, who was also a former vice-chancellor of National University.

On September 25, 2024, he was instructed to stop all academic and administrative activities. One allegation against him was that he had described the July 2024 student movement as "illegal, baseless and irrational" during a television discussion. However, HRW said it reviewed the broadcast footage and found no such remarks.

He was also accused of inciting genocide at a meeting at Ganabhaban on August 3, 2024. Rahman denied the allegation and said no evidence of such a statement had been presented to him. On August 31, 2026, the university authorities recommended his permanent dismissal. He subsequently appealed against the decision.

The report also examined disciplinary action at Bangladesh Agricultural University over a procession held on campus on August 4, 2024, a day before Hasina left the country.

The university's investigation commission described the procession as a "terrorist" march. However, after reviewing a video published by the Bangladesh Agricultural University Journalists' Association, HRW said it found people walking and chanting slogans but no signs of violence or clashes.

Professor Purba Islam of the Pharmacology Department was dismissed on August 4, 2025, over allegations that she had chanted slogans during the procession. HRW said the video did not show her chanting slogans.

Professor Yahia Khandaker of the Animal Breeding and Genetics Department was also dismissed on the same day. He said he had been in Dhaka with his family throughout the movement and was not on campus. The High Court later stayed his dismissal, but the Attorney General's Office appealed against the order.

HRW calls for protection of academic freedom

HRW also noted that three teachers had been convicted of crimes against humanity by the International Crimes Tribunal, two of whom were in prison, while another was awaiting trial.

The organisation said its research found that teachers and students were sometimes targeted over social media activity, participation in political groups, Telegram group membership or comments made on television.

Ganguly said punishing people for peacefully supporting a previous government would indicate that freedom of expression and assembly were not adequately protected. She stressed that universities should remain places for free thought and open debate.

HRW called for disciplinary measures to follow transparent investigations and due process, rather than being based solely on political beliefs or alleged affiliations.