Did Prof Arefin Siddique die at the wrong time?

The former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Professor A A M S Arefin Siddique, spent the golden years of his life on the university campus. However, after his passing, his body was not taken there for a final farewell. Instead, following his funeral prayer at Dhanmondi Eidgah Mosque on Friday after Jumu'ah, he was laid to rest at Azimpur Cemetery.

His beloved Dhaka University campus or the Central Shaheed Minar did not receive his mortal remains—why? Did he pass away at the wrong time?

Had Arefin Siddique died exactly a year earlier, on March 13, 2024, what would have happened the next day, March 14, on the Dhaka University campus and at the Central Shaheed Minar?

A Hypothetical Scenario from a Year Ago

1. At 10 AM, his body would have been taken to the Central Shaheed Minar, where thousands would have gathered to pay their respects. His relatives, colleagues, students, friends, well-wishers, political figures, and members of various cultural and social organizations would have queued up in an orderly manner to offer floral tributes. The Dhaka University administration or the Sammilita Sangskritik Jote (United Cultural Alliance) would have likely organized the event.

2. Television channels would have broadcast the tribute live. Given the relatively low news traffic on Fridays, the channels would have aired the event extensively, covering the mourning and tributes.

3. After paying respects at the Shaheed Minar, his body would have been taken to the Dhaka University Central Mosque for the Jumu'ah prayer funeral. Thousands would have participated in the funeral, forming long lines stretching from the mosque to Shahbagh, TSC, and even as far as Doel Chattar. Many reading this article might have attended the funeral themselves.

4. Even at Azimpur Cemetery, media outlets would have continued live coverage, and by the evening, his death would have been a major headline on prime-time news bulletins. That night, talk shows would have featured his former colleagues and students reminiscing about him.

5. The President, Prime Minister, Education Minister, and other key figures of the state would have expressed their condolences.

However, because he passed away on March 13, 2025, none of this happened. There has been no report of any official condolence messages from the highest levels of government. Did paying tribute to a former Vice-Chancellor of the country’s most prestigious university become too politically inconvenient?

Why Was His Final Journey So Different?

Was this a result of long-standing political divisions infiltrating even our educational institutions? What was Arefin Siddique’s crime? That he was a supporter of the now-ousted Awami League? It is no secret that university teachers often support political parties, and there is no legal restriction on them doing so. In fact, the Vice-Chancellor position itself has long been politicized—appointments are often based on political allegiance rather than merit.

While some university Vice-Chancellors have been accused of severe financial corruption, no such major allegations were raised against Arefin Siddique. The most common criticism against him was his excessive opening of new departments, many of which were deemed unnecessary, with allegations that these were used to recruit party loyalists. While there may be some truth to this, it is also a fact that these new departments created many employment opportunities. Whether the hiring process was fair or tainted by corruption remains a matter of investigation.

There are also claims that Arefin Siddique was against madrasa students being admitted to Dhaka University. However, this allegation lacks strong evidence, as many madrasa students were indeed admitted during his tenure.

So, was his real "crime" simply his political allegiance? Did his body not receive due respect because the government he supported had fallen from power?

What Role Did the University Authorities Play?

A Dhaka University professor wrote on Facebook—his post widely shared—that Arefin Siddique’s own family did not want his body taken to the campus. He interpreted this as a form of "self-censorship." However, on Thursday night, one of Arefin Siddique’s brothers stated in a Jamuna TV interview that if Dhaka University authorities wanted, the body could be taken to the campus.

So, did the university authorities want this or not? Ideally, the initiative for such a tribute should have come from the administration. However, they did not organize anything, nor have they provided any official explanation for their decision (as of Friday afternoon). Does this indicate the continuation of a toxic political culture?

A Recurring Pattern

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In October 2014, the body of former Dhaka University professor and TV commentator Pias Karim was also denied entry to the Central Shaheed Minar. Student organizations, primarily the Bangladesh Chhatra League, protested against it, while the Ganajagaran Mancha and other groups opposed his body being brought to the site, labeling him a supporter of war criminals. Artists even painted a message at the Shaheed Minar that read: "No traitor's body will be carried on this sacred ground; take it to Pakistan."

Back then, nine other notable figures were also declared unwelcome at the Shaheed Minar, including Professor Asif Nazrul (now an advisor in the interim government), Professor Amena Mohsin, political scientist Dilara Chowdhury, writer and columnist Farhad Mazhar, senior journalist Mahfuz Ullah, and lawyer Dr. Tuhin Malik.

Did Arefin Siddique also fall victim to this cycle of political vendetta?

The Man Behind the Politics

Regardless of his political stance or administrative decisions, Arefin Siddique was widely known as a humble and kind-hearted individual. Although I was never his direct student, I had the opportunity to interview him multiple times during my career in radio and television. He always came across as warm, sincere, and compassionate.

Above all, he was a teacher first. It was only fitting that his body should have been taken to the campus where he spent most of his life. The fact that the university administration failed to ensure this demonstrates their continued subservience to political biases rather than a commitment to institutional dignity.

A Lesson from History

Those in power today should remember that history is never static. Just a year ago, few could have predicted the downfall of a party as dominant as the Awami League, let alone that its leader would have to leave the country.

Who knows what will happen in the next year? In five years? The political landscape will shift, and the very people who denied Arefin Siddique a dignified farewell might find themselves in a similar position one day.

A truly civilized state does not withhold respect from its distinguished citizens simply because of political differences. A person’s political ideology should not overshadow their personal contributions and human qualities. If everything is dictated by politics, then only politics will remain—humanity will be lost.

Ameen Al Rashid: Journalist & Writer