The recent dismissals of two educators from the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) following pressure from groups of past and present students, over allegations of “Islamophobia” and ties to the former regime, highlight a troubling pattern. These teachers faced resignations, online harassment, and physical attacks without support from the administration.
On December 18, Assistant Professor Layeqa Bashir and Associate Professor ASM Mohsin from the Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities at UAP were terminated without following proper institutional procedures. The university cited “student protests” as the reason for their dismissal.
The termination process lacked transparency as Professor Layeqa was initially asked to resign. When she contested this request, an investigation committee was hastily formed, prompting complaints against her from the student body. Despite the absence of concrete evidence, the administration swiftly terminated both Professors Layeqa and Mohsin without allowing them a fair chance to defend themselves.
The controversy stemmed from a Facebook post by Layeqa on December 10 criticizing face-covering practices, which was leaked and sparked online outrage. Despite later apologizing for any unintended offense caused by her post, the protests persisted, culminating in demands for Prof Mohsin’s termination as well.
These actions set a dangerous precedent where educators risk losing their jobs due to unproven allegations or misinterpretations of their teachings. The suppression of academic freedom and free speech poses significant threats to universities and intellectual discourse.
The University Teachers’ Network and Women’s rights organization Naripokkho have condemned the arbitrary dismissals and called for the reinstatement of the professors. This incident underscores the urgent need for university administrations to uphold fairness and professionalism in handling such sensitive matters to prevent further erosion of academic freedom and intellectual growth.
The current climate of intolerance towards diverse perspectives within educational institutions jeopardizes the fundamental principles of higher education and must be addressed to safeguard the future of intellectual development and critical thinking among students.