HRW urges BD univs to uphold free speech, academic freedom

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday raised concerns over what it described as arbitrary punitive measures against academics and students at public universities in Bangladesh over their alleged political affiliations, saying the actions violate fundamental rights and undermine academic freedom.

Any action to punish persons for their peaceful beliefs or without ensuring due process would violate the rights to freedom of expression and association protected under international human rights law and reproduce abusive attempts under previous administrations to control political opinion and expression at Bangladesh’s public universities, it said.

“Bangladesh has a long history of political debate in its universities, and only autocrats should fear such discourse, not a government formed following student protests,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Bangladesh needs to turn the page on the repression of the past, not repeat it whenever the ruling and opposition parties trade places.”

The sanctions�"dismissals, suspension, and teaching restrictions�"focus on allegations that they were complicit in violence by Hasina’s Awami League government, which was toppled by student-led protests in 2024, allegations of other “subversive” activities in support of her party, or their alleged discrimination against students wearing Islamic clothing.

Hundreds of students, allegedly Awami League members and supporters, are also being expelled, denying them their education rights.

“Any acts of revenge against people who peacefully supported the previous government would show that freedoms of speech and assembly are not protected,” Ganguly said. “Universities should be places where people are free to express their views, not places where support is enforced for the government of the day.”�"UNB