Students from the Sociology Department of Dhaka University have taken to the streets to protest against the decision to remove Professor Samina Lutfa from the textbook revision committee, accusing her of being Islamophobic.
On Monday, in a gathering at the foot of the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University, general students claimed that the allegations of Islamophobia against Samina Lutfa were baseless.
They believe that targeting a teacher who has played a significant role in student movements is an obstacle to building an equitable Bangladesh.
Rayhan Ahmed, an 14th batch student of Sociology department stated, "Certain groups are trying to tarnish her image by labeling her as an Islamophobe, and we are here to oppose that."
"As her students, we know she is a qualified person to be on the textbook revision committee. Some people who engage in divisive politics are labeling her as an Islamophobe. As far as we know her, she does not harbor such sentiments," he added.
Not only students from the Sociology Department but also like-minded students from other departments participated in this protest march.
Sima Akter, a student from the Music Department, said, "When Dr. Samina Ma`am is targeted and questioned, it means that we are denying the Bangladesh we got by protesting against tagging. Fascist governments used this tagging as a weapon."
Some students believe that Professor Samina Lutfa and Kamrul Hasan have been deliberately targeted.
Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emy, an 8th-batch student of the Sociology Department, said, "We may have driven out the fascist government, but the elements of fascism still exist strongly in our society."
She further added, "Our chief advisor Dr. Yunus Sir also spoke in favor of LGBTQ rights in 2012 to two other Nobel laureates. Yet, Samina Lutfa Ma`am and Kamrul Hasan Sir have been deliberately targeted."
Religious organizations had objected to two members of the textbook revision committee, accusing them of being Islamophobic. In response to these objections, the Ministry of Education disbanded the committee. This decision has sparked various reactions from different quarters.
