THE termination of jobs of two teachers of a private university amid student protests and without a credible investigation is concerning. The University of Asia Pacific on January 19 removed from job basic sciences and humanities teachers Layeqa Bashir and ASM Mohsin as students demanded their removal, alleging that Layeqa Bashir made remarks that may amount to Islamophobia. While ASM Mohsin says that he is not fully aware of the reasons for the termination of his job, Layeqa Bashir says that a group of former students began threatening her over a Facebook posting that she made on December 10 2025, after the murder of a woman and her daughter by a masked woman. She suspects that an influential section of the university was patronising the students and supporting this right-wing move. The pro-vice-chancellor also implicitly acknowledges that the decision on job termination was made in the face of student protests. In this context, the University Teachers’ Network has rightly pointed to the move as being indicative of a growing threat to academic freedom.
This is, however, not the first such case of job termination in recent months. On August 26, 2025, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College suspended a teacher on allegations that she had expelled students for wearing a hijab. In March 2024, a group of Islamic studies students in the University of Rajshahi rallied, demanding exemplary punishment for an assistant professor who reportedly had forced female students to remove their hijab and uncover their faces. No student should face discrimination for a hijab or any other clothing choice. Yet, the series of such events points to a climate of fear within academia and illustrates how in these cases Islamophobia is weaponised, with teachers’ pedagogical freedom being constrained on the grounds that their teaching style or subject matter allegedly offends a segment of students influenced by the right-wing ideology. Layeqa Bashir’s posting that led to her job termination asked how a teacher would teach social history without talking about the history and practices of religion. She further asked how a teacher could assess a student’s performance, particularly online, without asking the students to confirm their identity. These are valid policy issues that teachers would ask and the university should take them into account, instead of silencing teachers with job termination notices.
The University of Asia Pacific decision is an ominous sign of declining academic freedom. The education ministry should, therefore, look into the allegation that the series of job terminations of teachers on allegations of discriminatory remarks against students wearing hijab was made under the influence of right-wing organised forces. Stakeholders should also address the greater policy concern arising out of the issue of keeping the face covered or wearing a niqab during examinations.
