Students hold torch procession at NSTU demanding permanent expulsion of teacher

NSTU Correspondent:

Students of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) staged a torch procession on Thursday night demanding the permanent expulsion of Associate Professor (currently temporarily suspended) Badsha Mia of the Department of Law.

The demonstration also protested the recent High Court order that stayed the university’s two-year suspension of the teacher.

The procession began around 9:00pm at the university’s Central Shaheed Minar premises, circled several dormitories, and ended with a brief rally at the starting point. Students from various departments participated in the demonstration, chanting slogans such as “Beware, agents of autocracy,” “Justice for Foyez,” “Set fire to injustice,” and “We want permanent expulsion.”

During the rally, student speakers accused Badsha Mia of severely disrupting the academic life of Foyez Ahmed, a meritorious student from the Department of Law. They further alleged that Foyez’s family is being harassed and pressured to withdraw complaints against the teacher.

Rana, a student from the 2022-23 session of the Law Department, said,
“Badsha Mia, a known supporter of the ruling Awami League, has destroyed three vital years of Foyezbhai’s life. He was imprisoned without fault, and his education suffered irreparably. This was all done to curry favour with higher authorities and secure a promotion. We demand his permanent expulsion. Otherwise, the administration’s vision for progress will remain unfulfilled.”

Another student, Zafar Ahmed, added,
“Badsha Mia is not just a disgrace to NSTU, but to the entire academic community of the country. Under the guise of teaching, he indulged in political favoritism and sycophancy toward a specific ruling group. Now, when we stand against injustice, we are being lectured on rules and norms.”

He further claimed,
“A teacher who should have been permanently dismissed was only suspended for two years, and now there’s an attempt to reinstate him via court intervention. We have seen private chat exchanges between Badsha Mia and NSTU’s treasurer Hanif Murad, suggesting clear bias and efforts to bring him back.”

The students concluded the rally by urging the university administration to take bold action:
“Play a revolutionary role and set an example on campus by permanently expelling Badsha Mia.”