DU Warns Students Against Religious Insults: ‘Strict Action’ Promised

Dhaka University (DU) authorities have issued a stern warning to students involved in religious mockery or insults, vowing “no hesitation” in taking strict measures. The statement, released late Saturday night, urges maintaining communal harmony amid recent incidents across campuses.

The notice states that some DU students have posted “disrespectful and derogatory” comments, opinions, photos, or content on social media targeting individuals’ religion, beliefs, and culture. Such behavior is also observed at the personal level, deemed “highly condemnable and undesirable.”

Bangladesh has long thrived on interfaith harmony, the statement notes, emphasizing mutual respect as a hallmark of responsible citizenship. DU students, as representatives of the nation’s premier institution, bear higher expectations. “Just as we take pride in their contributions during national crises, we aspire to see them set examples in communal harmony,” it reads.

Mocking religion, culture, or rituals to incite hatred is a crime, with prescribed penalties under university rules. “To preserve peace, discipline, and a conducive learning environment, the authorities are resolute. Any disruptive activity will face strict action without hesitation,” the statement warns.

It urges all students to refrain from spreading hatred and to embody tolerance, respect, and harmony as responsible citizens of the country’s highest seat of learning.