Leading women’s rights organisations have sharply condemned Associate Professor Khandaker Muhammad Mahmudul Hasan of Rajshahi University’s Physics Department for branding Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, the pioneering advocate for women’s emancipation, as a “murtad and kafir” (apostate infidel) in a Facebook post shared on December 9, Begum Rokeya Day.
The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, in a statement signed by President Dr. Fawzia Moslem and General Secretary Maleka Banu, expressed deep outrage at the professor’s act, viewing it as ignorance and insolence that aligns with forces misinterpreting religion to block women’s advancement.
Rokeya’s enduring vision for liberation, articulated over 150 years ago, continues to inspire Bangladeshi women striving for progress in every field, yet it provokes fear among anti-progress groups. Such propaganda from an educator raises grave doubts about his suitability for the role, especially ironic amid state honours like Rokeya Day observances and the Rokeya Padak award, rendering it contrary to national policy.
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Mahila Parishad described these actions as a conspiracy to hinder women’s post-independence gains and national development, fostering obstacles to a healthy society. It demanded the professor’s immediate removal from teaching and effective curbs on anti-women propaganda on social media and urged conscious citizens to unite against misogynistic fundamentalist activities.
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Similarly, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) labelled the remarks “unacceptable” and “deeply disrespectful,” deeming them irresponsible, divisive, and promotive of misogyny and hate speech in violation of human rights norms, state laws, and academic ethics. Insulting Rokeya undermines decades of social progress and affronts women’s achievements in equality and dignity.
ASK called on university authorities to act decisively to preserve academic integrity and curb hate speech in educational environments.
The controversial post selectively excerpted religious references from Rokeya’s writings, captioned “Today is the birthday of murtad kafir Begum Rokeya.” It has ignited widespread backlash on social media from students, activists, and others.
The professor, Khandker Mahmudul Hasan, associate professor of physics at RU, has defended it as his personal religious interpretation, advising verification with Islamic scholars. Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Saleh Hasan Naqib dismissed it as a personal opinion.
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