The Jahangirnagar University administration has ordered the compulsory retirement of one associate professor, downgraded the salaries of six teachers and demoted two others over their alleged involvement in directing attacks on students during the July 2024 mass uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League government.
The decisions were taken at a syndicate meeting chaired by vice-chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan that began at about 4:00pm on Monday and continued for nearly 13 hours until Tuesday dawn.
The disciplinary actions followed an investigation into attacks carried out on students between July 14 and July 17, 2024, during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, when law enforcement personnel and members of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League allegedly targeted protesters on the university campus.
Under the decisions, associate professor Mehedi Iqbal of the geography and environment department was sent into compulsory retirement following severity of his offence.
However, the administration did not reveal the offence immediately.
Assistant professor Mohibur Rouf Shaibal of the drama and dramatics department was demoted to lecturer and deputy registrar Nahidur Rahman Khan was demoted to assistant registrar as per the decision.
They will be eligible to apply for promotion after two years, subject to fulfilling the required conditions.
Six teachers received salary downgrades, including former pro-vice-chancellor for academic affairs Professor Mohammad Mostafa Feeroz, former dean of the social sciences faculty Professor Bashir Ahmed, former proctors Professor Mohammad Alamgir Kabir, and associate professor ASM Firoz-ul-Hasan.
Besides, Professor Israfil Ahmed of the drama and dramatics department, and associate professor Mohammad Tazuddin Shikdar of the public health and informatics department, lecturer of accounting and information system Kanon Kumar Sen also received the same penalty.
University authorities said some of those penalised were also barred from holding administrative positions for the next five years.
Professor Abdullah Al Mamun of physics, and associate Professor Hosnera Parvin of the history department received formal warnings.
Professor Mamun was also declared ineligible to hold administrative responsibilities for five years.
The syndicate cleared eight teachers and one university official of allegations related to the incidents.
‘The syndicate made its decisions with the utmost importance attached to ensuring that no innocent person is punished and no offender escapes accountability,’ vice-chancellor Kamrul Ahsan told reporters.
He said the decisions were reached after extensive discussions and scrutiny of a report submitted by an investigation committee formed on March 17, 2025.
The university also formed three committees to investigate the roles of former vice-chancellor Nurul Alam, former pro-vice-chancellor for administrative affairs Manzurul Huq and former treasurer Rasheda Akhter after the investigation report referenced their alleged involvement in the events.
The committees would examine the allegations and recommend further action, university authorities said.
Earlier, on March 18, 2025, JU administration temporarily suspended nine teachers and suspended the pension benefits of former vice-chancellor Nurul Alam over their alleged involvement in supporting attacks on protesters during the mass uprising.
The latest measures are among the most significant disciplinary actions taken by the university authorities in connection with the mass uprising following months of demonstrations demanding action against the teachers.
