DU students protest against falsely labelling Samina Luthfa 'Islamophobic'

Students of the Sociology Department at Dhaka University (DU) on Monday held a rally and marched in protest of remarking an Samina Luthfa, an associate professor in their department, as 'Islamophobic'.

The students began their march from the Faculty of Social Sciences and ended it at Raju Memorial Sculpture, where it came to an end with a rally.

The students in their speech said they are against the unjust labeling of Samina Luthfa as anti-Islamic. She was one of the members of a recently dissolved committee, which had been formed earlier this month to revise textbooks.

Tasnim Afroz Emi, a former student of the department at the protest, said elements of authoritarianism are "still strongly present".

"We are witnessing various mob attacks," she said mentioning that Samina Luthfa is being targeted and hatred is being spread against her. She also questioned the unjust treatment teachers have been facing.

Arunima Tahsin, another former student of the department, said, "They haven't just started working on this curriculum today; they have been working on education for a long time."

"When there was dissatisfaction across the country about the National Education Policy 2021, especially among parents, we saw a handful of teachers stepping forward with their expertise."

A current student of the department, Abdul Ahad, said they are protesting against calling Samina Luthfa Islamophobic.

"She has never made any anti-religious statements in class. She doesn't impose her beliefs on others and works impartially," he said protesting against falsely labelling teachers with a political intention.

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