BIGD Sacks Official for Calling DUCSU Women Representatives ‘House Slaves’

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) has terminated Md. Rakibul Mobin, a research associate and Dhaka University student, for making derogatory remarks about women representatives elected in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. Mobin, in a recent social media post, mocked the women representatives’ hijabs, referring to them as “house slaves,” prompting a written complaint and his subsequent dismissal. The decision was announced in a press release on Monday, September 15, afternoon.

In the statement posted on BIGD’s Facebook page, the institute clarified, “We are aware of a post published on Md. Rakibul Mobin’s personal social media account. This post reflects his personal opinion and in no way represents BIGD’s values, standards, or institutional stance. His personal views should not be construed as those of BIGD.” The statement further condemned “any derogatory, discriminatory, or disrespectful behavior towards any individual or group based on gender, religion, political affiliation, or any other beliefs.” It added, “Following due process, and in upholding our ethical and professional standards, we have terminated our association with the individual involved. BIGD remains committed to ensuring that all members adhere to our institutional values and code of conduct.”

Mobin, a student of Dhaka University’s Economics Department from the 2019-20 session, was employed as a research associate at BIGD, which operates under BRAC University.

The action follows a written complaint lodged by Shakhawat Zakaria, DUCSU’s newly elected Human Rights and Law Secretary, with BIGD’s Executive Director, Imran Matin. In the complaint, Zakaria stated that Mobin’s social media post openly targeted DUCSU’s elected women representatives with “explicitly misogynistic and derogatory remarks.” He noted that the comments were intended to belittle and demean women’s leadership, describing them as “not only offensive but a direct attack on women’s dignity, empowerment, and political participation.”