IU Fails to Remove Fired Professor Hafiz from Website

Despite the dismissal of Assistant Professor Hafizul Islam from the Development Studies Department at Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia for proven allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct, his name and details remain on the university’s official website two months later, sparking outrage among students.

The university administration dismissed Hafizul Islam on May 31, 2025, following the 268th Syndicate meeting’s decision, based on evidence of serious allegations, including sexual harassment, physical abuse in private settings, offensive remarks about female students, coercing male students into homosexual acts, threatening lower grades, harassing female students via calls, and engaging in inappropriate conversations using fake IDs. Students from the department had staged multiple protests, including human chains, locking the department and main gate, and burning effigies, demanding his permanent removal.

As of Wednesday, August 13, 2025, a visit to the IU website revealed Hafizul Islam’s name, photo, and designation still listed alongside other faculty members. Borhan Uddin, a 2017-18 session student and president of the Development Studies Club, expressed dismay: “It’s unacceptable that a teacher dismissed for grave allegations remains on the university’s official website. This is not just administrative negligence but sends a wrong message to students, parents, and society. The university, a symbol of truth and justice, must correct this immediately to uphold transparency and its reputation.”

Efforts to contact IU’s ICT Cell Director, Dr. Shahjahan Ali, and System Analyst, Dr. Naim Morshed, were unsuccessful, as neither responded to multiple calls.

The university formed an investigation committee following student complaints, which confirmed the allegations, leading to Hafizul’s dismissal under section 4(1)(F) of the Islamic University Employees’ Efficiency and Discipline Rules. Prior actions included a one-year mandatory leave and cancellation of his annual increment on December 22, 2024, after the 266th Syndicate meeting, followed by a comprehensive reinvestigation prompted by student demands.