Students at the Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia have launched protests demanding the dismissal of Professor Dr. Nasir Uddin Miji, Chair of the Department of Al-Quran and Islamic Studies, after an audio clip surfaced online in which he made sexually offensive and derogatory remarks about a female student’s attire and insulted a recently deceased student named Sajid.
In the four-minute audio clip—first uploaded on Tuesday night from a Facebook ID named Abdullah Bin Asad—a voice, alleged to be Dr. Nasir’s, can be heard scolding students and using highly inappropriate language. The speaker refers to female students as “half-naked” and calls one of them a “beast,” while also making insensitive comments about Sajid’s death.
The remarks sparked immediate outrage on campus and across social media. Facing mounting criticism, Dr. Nasir spoke to journalists on Wednesday morning, describing his comments as a “slip of the tongue” during what he claimed was a “private conversation.” He said,
“It was not an official statement. I may have crossed the line in my tone. I did not mean to target anyone specifically. I apologise to everyone and request that my words be seen as a moment of human weakness.”
However, the apology did not satisfy the students. Around 11 a.m., hundreds gathered in front of the administrative building to stage a human chain, calling for the professor’s permanent expulsion and submitting a five-point memorandum to Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Naqib Mohammad Nasrullah.
Their demands include:
- Arrest of those involved in Sajid’s murder.
- Permanent dismissal of Professor Dr. Nasir Uddin.
- Disciplinary action against those threatening student protesters.
- Punishment for anyone obstructing legitimate student movements.
- Assurance of students’ constitutional rights to protest and free expression.
During the protest, student leaders condemned the professor’s behavior, saying his comments reflect “a decayed moral conscience, not a mere slip of the tongue.”
“Sajid didn’t turn to ashes—his death lit the fire of our conscience. If students like Sajid hadn’t stood up in July, teachers like Nasir wouldn’t be sitting in these chairs today,” said one speaker.
They also warned that if visible action is not taken within 72 hours of filing a written complaint, they will begin a hunger strike.
IU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nasrullah later told reporters that the incident was “deeply unfortunate and unacceptable,” adding that the professor had already issued a public apology.
“No teacher should use such offensive or degrading language. The university administration will take necessary action once a written complaint is formally submitted,” he assured.
Both IU Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Chhatra Union have also issued separate statements condemning the professor’s remarks and expressing solidarity with the protesting students.
