Teachers’ Forum Demands Reinstatement of Controversial Lecturer Asif Mahtab

The National Teachers’ Forum demanded the reinstatement of BRAC University part-time lecturer Asif Mahtab Utsha, who came under public attention after openly tearing pages from a Grade Seven textbook while opposing content related to transgender identity. The demand was made at a special meeting of the Forum’s central committee on 22 January 2024. During the meeting, Professor Nasir Uddin Khan, central president of the National Teachers’ Forum, criticised BRAC University’s decision regarding Mahtab and argued that a university teacher should have the right to independently express views on transgender issues. The organisation called for Mahtab’s immediate reinstatement and also demanded that the university authorities issue a public apology.

The demand followed an incident several days earlier involving Mahtab’s public statements and actions concerning the national curriculum. On 19 January, at a seminar titled “New Textbooks in the Current Curriculum: Reality and Future,” organised by the National Teachers’ Forum at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Kakrail, Dhaka, Mahtab raised objections to “Sharifa’s Story” in the Grade Seven History and Social Science textbook. The story describes a person who grew up as Sharif, later came to understand their gender identity, adopted the name Sharifa, and began living with the Hijra community. During his speech, Mahtab opposed the inclusion of such content in the textbook and, at one point, tore out the pages containing the story. He also encouraged others to protest in a similar manner. A video of the incident subsequently circulated widely on social media, triggering public discussion and controversy over transgender identity, the Hijra community, and the inclusion of gender-related content in Bangladesh’s national curriculum.

Mahtab later stated on social media that he had received a phone call from BRAC University informing him that he should not return to teach in the following semester. After the matter became public, individuals and groups supporting him began responding on social media, and the National Teachers’ Forum subsequently took an official position in his support. At its special meeting on 22 January, Professor Nasir Uddin Khan defended Mahtab’s position and maintained that a teacher had the right to independently express an opinion on transgender issues. According to Dhaka Post, Khan described BRAC University’s action as disgraceful for the teaching community and presented transgender issues as conflicting with religious, social and humanitarian values. The Forum demanded that Mahtab be reinstated and called on BRAC University authorities to publicly apologise over the matter.

The special meeting was attended by several leaders of the National Teachers’ Forum, including Senior Vice-President Maulana ABM Zakaria, Secretary General Abdus Sabur, Joint Secretary General Ishtiaq Mu Al Amin, Training Secretary Muhsin Bhuiyan, Khulna regional Organising Secretary KM Zahid Titumir, central committee member Amir Hossain, and other representatives of the organisation.