Hundreds demand action against IUB Professor over menstruation posts

Dr Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, a faculty member at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), is facing public criticism after making controversial remarks on menstruation and adolescent health on social media. His posts, published on Facebook on September 16 and later deleted, have been widely condemned as misogynistic, scientifically inaccurate, and harmful to public discourse, says a press release sent to media on Monday.

According to the release, a petition signed by over 300 citizens—including students, educators, professionals, and activists—has called for disciplinary action and a public apology from Dr Hossain. The petition also urges IUB to reaffirm its commitment to scientific integrity and gender equality.

In one of the now-deleted Facebook posts, Dr Hossain criticised the installation of sanitary napkin vending machines at Dhaka University, calling the move a sign of “blindly following Western culture.” He also accused NGOs and the media of “normalising menstruation” and turning it into a “commercial industry.”

He further claimed that before 2005, menstruation was not included in educational curricula or public discourse, and that NGOs had unnecessarily brought attention to it.

In another post, also removed, he stated; “100 years ago, women had about 40 menstrual cycles in their lifetime, but now they have 400 because they don’t want children.”

Experts have rejected this claim as scientifically inaccurate. Menstrual frequency is influenced by biological factors such as nutrition and health, not by reproductive choices. Critics argue that Dr Hossain's suggestion promotes early motherhood and indirectly legitimizes child marriage.

In other comments, Dr Hossain referred to menstruation education as "obscenity," dismissed it as a "billion-dollar business," and labeled its inclusion in textbooks a “religion-based conspiracy.”

One widely circulated quote from his post read; “If you are not careful, the East India Company will succeed when your child starts discussing menstruation at the dinner table.”

More than 300 activists, including university professors, development workers, students, journalists, and artists have signed the petition demanding disciplinary action against Dr Hossain. The petitioners say his remarks are misogynistic, unscientific, and harmful to children’s rights and public health. Among the signatories are members of organisations such as Bonhishikha, Nijera Kori, Drik, and ActionAid Bangladesh, as well as students and faculties from institutions including BRAC University, University of Dhaka, Jahangirnagar University, and IUB itself.

They call for a formal apology and insist the university uphold its commitment to gender equality and evidence-based education. They warn that such statements risk promoting child marriage and undermining progress on women’s health in Bangladesh, the press release added.