A group of 147 citizens, including academics, writers, activists, and professionals, have strongly condemned the threats and coordinated attacks on social media against Nadira Yasmin, assistant professor of Bangla at Narsingdi Government College, and demanded immediate steps to ensure her safety and dignity.

In a statement, they urged the government to identify and bring to justice those responsible for making abusive and threatening posts against her on Facebook and Messenger.

They also called on authorities to take a firm stance against online harassment and misinformation.

The signatories accused three religious organisations --- Tanzimul Madarisil Qawmia Narsingdi, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish (Narsingdi unit), and Hefazat-e-Islam (Narsingdi unit) --- of labelling Yasmin "anti-Islamic" and issuing a 48-hour ultimatum demanding her removal.

The statement warned that such actions incite hatred under the guise of religious sentiment and pose a serious threat to academic freedom and women's rights.

They further criticised the government's silence and inaction in the face of repeated harassment of women and called for the college administration to uphold Yasmin's academic freedom and human rights.

The signatories of the statement include Mirza Taslima Sultana, professor of anthropology at Jahangirnagar University; Sushmita Preetha, writer and researcher; Shamim Ara Nipa, activist; Padmini Chakma, photographer; Mausumi Ahmed, architect and teacher; Abeda Gulrukh, lawyer at Supreme Court of Bangladesh; Lucky Akter, central committee member of Communist Party of Bangladesh; Marzia Prova, activist; Nazifa Tasnim Khanom Tisha, publisher and theatre worker; and Tarannum Ali, artist.