Dhaka, 26 January 2024,
The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) has called for the immediate arrest of BRAC University’s former adjunct philosophy teacher Asif Mahtab, describing him as an “extremist, militant and religion trader.” In a statement issued Wednesday, January 24, 2024, and signed by party president Hasanul Haque Inu and general secretary Shirin Akhtar, Jasad alleged that Mahtab created “excitement and unrest” by opposing science education and misinterpreting/abusing religion in relation to transgender and Hijra topics in school textbooks.
The statement further argued that such tactics seek to turn Muslims away from science and reason, identifying logic and science education as obstacles to so-called “religious business.” Jasad urged all “political and social forces with good sense” to build united resistance against extremist, militant, and fanatic politics. It also recalled that religion-based political parties had opposed Bangla language, culture, Bengali identity and the country’s independence, and collaborated in the 1971 genocide and crimes against humanity—framing today’s agitation as part of a longer pattern.
The call followed a widely circulated incident in which Mahtab—then a part-time teacher—tore out pages from a Grade 7 History & Social Science textbook during a Dhaka seminar, claiming the content “incited homosexuality.” The contested pages presented “Sharifa’s Story,” a public-awareness lesson about the life of Hijra people. Curriculum contributors have countered that some groups are opposing the textbook without understanding it, as a nationwide debate has unfolded.
A separate report also noted Jasad’s demand and summarized the party’s rationale and language regarding Mahtab and the curriculum.
Source:
bdnews24 (Bangla) — “ ‘উগ্র’ আসিফ মাহতাবকে অবিলম্বে গ্রেপ্তারের দাবি জাসদের” (Jan 24, 2024): bdnews24.com
Prothom Alo (Bangla) — “ব্র্যাক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের সাবেক শিক্ষক আসিফ মাহতাবকে গ্রেপ্তারের দাবি জাসদের” (Jan 25, 2024): prothomalo.com
