A rare disruption unfolded at the University of Chittagong (CU) on Friday, 4 July 2025, as students locked the administrative building in protest against the scheduled promotion of a faculty member facing serious allegations. The students claimed that despite ongoing accusations—including involvement in an attempted murder case—the university administration had moved forward with the promotion process of Assistant Professor Dr. Kushal Baran Chakraborty from the Department of Sanskrit.
Chronology of Events
The promotion board for Dr. Kushal Baran Chakraborty was scheduled to convene at 3:00 PM on Friday, 4 July, in the Vice-Chancellor’s conference room. However, by 2:30 PM, members of several student organizations had already begun protesting outside the administrative building, eventually locking the main entrance. As a result, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Yahya Akhtar, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Dr. Shamim Uddin Khan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Dr. Kamal Uddin, and other board members were confined inside.
Protesters alleged that Dr. Chakraborty was the 20th accused in a case related to a violent attack on Enamul Haque, a member of the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, which took place on 26 November 2024 near the Chittagong Court premises. The case was reportedly filed on 8 December 2024. Additional allegations emerged accusing Dr. Chakraborty of affiliations with India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and intelligence agency RAW—claims that he has strongly denied.
Dr. Chakraborty stated that the accusations were politically motivated and unfounded. “I was in Dhaka undergoing medical treatment at the time, and I had official leave from the university,” he said. “I do not even know the plaintiff of the case.”
Viral Footage and Classroom Tensions
A video clip of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing Dr. Chakraborty attempting to speak in a heated environment inside the administrative building. “I was a victim of mob aggression,” he later told the press. “I was locked in a room. I wanted to respond peacefully, but they didn’t allow me to speak.”
When the board session began inside the Vice-Chancellor’s room, a group of protesters entered and disrupted the meeting. As Dr. Chakraborty tried to respond to the crowd’s questions, Pro-Vice-Chancellors reportedly intervened to prevent him from continuing. Outside, protest slogans accused him of being a “fascist collaborator,” “RAW agent,” and “ISKCON member.”
Following nearly two hours of unrest, the university administration announced at 5:00 PM that Dr. Chakraborty’s promotion board had been suspended. Students removed the lock and left the premises. Acting Registrar Prof. Dr. Mohammad Saiful Islam stated, “Due to media reports and student concerns, the board has been postponed. The matter will be discussed in the upcoming Syndicate meeting on 24 July.”
Prior Controversies
Protesters also referenced an earlier controversy involving Dr. Chakraborty. On 26 October 2024, he organized an international conference on the “genocide of Hindus, Buddhists, and indigenous minorities in Bangladesh,” which drew criticism from certain student groups. Accusations at the time included “anti-state activity,” “foreign propaganda,” and “damaging Bangladesh’s international image.”
Dr. Chakraborty defended the initiative, stating, “It was part of my academic and human rights research. I am not affiliated with any organization. I work on minority rights, and my efforts are being misrepresented.”
Student Demands
The protest involved multiple student groups, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islami Chhatra Andolon, and the Democratic Student Union. Protesters raised additional allegations of bias against several other faculty members and administrators.
Their primary demands included:
- Suspension of Dr. Kushal Baran Chakraborty and other “controversial” faculty members from academic duties.
- Disciplinary action by 5 August against any university staff or students who opposed or suppressed the July 2024 student movement.
- Assurance of an academic environment “free from fascist influence.”
Questions About Governance and Academic Integrity
The incident raised serious concerns about academic freedom, the presumption of innocence, and administrative decision-making. Some faculty members expressed discomfort over suspending a promotion process based on unverified allegations.
Dr. Chakraborty questioned whether public pressure should override due process. “Should a teacher’s career be halted just because 50 people shout slogans?” he asked. “If anyone reviews my work, they will see I am neither an ISKCON member nor affiliated with any foreign agency.”
Administrative Response and Next Steps
University authorities have indicated that the matter will be formally addressed in the Syndicate meeting scheduled for 24 July 2025. A segment of the academic community insists that no punitive or obstructive action should be taken without a thorough investigation and concrete evidence.
Publication Date: 04 July, 2025
Reports published in various newspapers on this issue: manobkantha, thedailystar, bdnews24, banglanews24, sarabangla, dhakapost, bd-pratidin, somoynews, kalerkantho
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