Protests break out at Viqarunnisa School’s Bashundhara branch over teacher’s suspension

Current and former students of the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Bashundhara branch have begun to stage protests after a teacher was suspended over allegations of preventing students from wearing a Hijab or a headscarf.

Students demanded the reinstatement of teacher Fazilatun Nahar, a fair investigation into the incident, and punishment for those spreading misinformation, bdnews24.com reports. 

The protests began on Wednesday morning with the boycotting of classes. Later, around 11:30am, the protesters marched around the roads surrounding the campus.

According to a notice signed on Tuesday by Acting Principal Mazeda Begum, the decision was based on a recommendation from the school’s ad hoc committee.

Ninth grader Rokaiya Binte Mazhar, a protester, told bdnews24.com: "Our teacher didn't forbid us from wearing the Hijab, she told us to wear it properly. When the panel students, who were working as volunteers went to that class during the last period, she told them to go outside and settle the matter. The panel of students took out those students who did not follow the dress code and spoke to them for 8-10 minutes.”

“A conspiracy has been hatched against our teacher over these 10 minutes. We want her reinstatement, and punishment for those spreading misinformation.”

Another protester, 10th grade student Meher Afroz Kanak said: “They are spreading misinformation against our teacher. She asked the students to follow the dress code. That’s why she’s facing this false propaganda.”

Former student Anisa Karim told bdnews24.com, “I studied at this institution from 2009 to 2019. None of our teachers, including teacher Nahar, ever spoke against us wearing a Hijab. I believe, whatever they are saying against teacher Nahar, is baseless.”

"We want a fair investigation into this incident, and we want justice for those who are trying to defame her [teacher Nahar] by spreading false allegations, including in the media."

The ad hoc committee notice added that the teacher must submit a written explanation within seven working days, though the suspension was not a permanent dismissal.

Nahar has rejected the accusations as “false and fabricated.”

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Nahar said: “I did not do this. In that class, 22 students do not wear a Hijab – about nine to 11 of them do. I told them to wear the Hijab properly when coming to school.”

She added that she had explained the rules on how the Hijab should be worn.

Recalling the incident, she said she found volunteers checking students’ nails, hair and uniforms during her class.

“I told them to take the children outside if they had to check, but I did not send anyone out myself.”

Nahar has worked at the Bashundhara branch for one-and-a-half decades.

Claiming that no show cause notice was served before she was suspended, Nahar said, "I will take legal action."

"She has been temporarily suspended following the allegations. We are conducting an investigation," Acting Principal Majeda told bdnews24.com on Wednesday.

"We believe that the investigation will reveal the truth. We will make a final decision accordingly."