RU teacher faces backlash after calling Begum Rokeya 'kafir' and 'murtad'

Today marks the birth anniversary of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain. On this occasion, while the chief adviser handed over Begum Rokeya Padak to four distinguished women, a Rajshahi University teacher stirred controversy by making derogatory remarks about the pioneer of women's emancipation. He labelled Begum Rokeya as a “murtad” and “kafir”.

He is Khandaker Muhammad Mahmudul Hasan, associate professor at the Department of Physics, Rajshahi University. In a post from his Facebook account on Begum Rokeya Day, he wrote, “Today is the birthday of murtad, kafir Begum Rokeya.”

Responding to queries, he said that he shared a Facebook post by a person named Sajid Hasan and wrote the caption himself. According to him, he believed Begum Rokeya was anti-Islam after reading that post. “If you read Sajid Hasan’s full post, a clear picture of Begum Rokeya comes out,” he said.

An inquiry into the Facebook post shows that fragments of Rokeya’s writings on religion had been selectively presented, which the RU teacher shared before making his remark.

The comment has sparked widespread criticism.

Rajshahi University vice-chancellor Professor Dr Saleh Hasan Nakib said, “This is his personal opinion. Many will not like it. I personally do not support it.”

Expressing outrage, Rajshahi University Student Union general secretary Paroma Parmita said, “Begum Rokeya was one of the pioneers of women's education and human values in the subcontinent. She was never anti-religion; rather, she fought superstition, discrimination and ignorance, all of which religion including Islam discourages.”

She added, “Using religious insults against an individual is not just offensive, it is wrongful. Progress and civilised debate come from reason and history, not demeaning others. Attempts to undermine Rokeya on her birth anniversary cannot diminish her contributions, but only expose our own intolerance.”

Sharing a screenshot of the post, former Raksu literature and debate panel candidate Mamunuzzaman Snigdho wrote that the teacher works in a department where women teachers teach, including a Cambridge-educated lecturer. There are conservative female students, students who do not wear hijab and even those who disagree with him.

He asked whether such a teacher is genuinely safe for all female students and whether he aligns with the ethos expected of a university teacher.