Satkhira Correspondent

Enragedment has spread among students of Narsingdi Government College over the decision to transfer Nadira Yasmin, an assistant professor and women's rights activist, to Satkhira Government College.

The issue has become a hot topic of discussion on social media platform Facebook. Many students have opposed the decision and made it clear that they do not want Nadira Yasmin to attend Satkhira Government College.

Recently, Hefazat-e-Islam accused Nadira Yasmin of "hurting religious sentiments" over an article in the magazine "Hisya" and gave her an ultimatum to remove her within 48 hours. In response to this pressure, the Department of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHHE) issued a notification on Monday ordering her transfer to Satkhira Government College.

Students in Satkhira believe that the transfer decision is 'not a reflection of public opinion, but rather a bow to pressure.' Some on Facebook have called Nadira Yasmin an 'atheist' and called for her to be stopped from joining Satkhira.

A student wrote, "I don't want to see this atheist in my Bengali department at Satkhira Government College. I am calling on everyone to come together to hold a protest march at Satkhira Government College."

Another wrote that if he is given the opportunity to sit in the Bengali department, all the students of Satkhira Government College are ready to explain to him in a loud voice how to get him out by bending his fingers.

Tension is prevailing in the academic community following the incident. Although no official statement has been received from the college administration yet, it is learnt that the local administration and education authorities are closely monitoring the matter.

Meanwhile, the students submitted the first memorandum to the acting principal of the college, Mohammad Al Mustansir Billah, at 12 noon on Tuesday . Then, at 12:30 pm, the second memorandum was handed over to Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Bishnupada Pal at the Satkhira Deputy Commissioner's office.

The students' main demands are to prevent Nadira Yasmin from joining Satkhira Government College, to investigate and take legal action against her for blasphemy, and to prevent anyone who is anti-Islam from being transferred or appointed to any educational institution in Satkhira in the future.

The protest program was led by Bakhtiar Hossain and Rabiul Islam from the Mathematics Department, Fahmid Alam and Abdullah Al Mamun from Zoology, Jhuma Mariam from Economics, Imran Nazir Shuvo from Botany, and Shaon Hossain from the Bengali Department, among others.

Satkhira Government College Principal Abul Hashem is currently in Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage, so acting principal Mohammad Al Mustansir Billah refused to comment on the matter. However, he said that he will send the students' memorandum to the appropriate authorities. He also said that since Assistant Professor Nadira Yasmin has been transferred to Satkhira Government College by the Ministry of Education, Assistant Professor Nadira Yasmin can join as per the instructions and rules of the ministry. However, in the emerging situation, the college will take further steps as per the advice of higher authorities.

On behalf of the district administration, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Bishnupada Pal informed the students that since the transfer decision came from the Ministry of Education, the memorandum will be sent to the concerned ministry and the next decision will be communicated from there.

Meanwhile, Shampa Goswami, the executive director of a non-governmental development organization called "Prerona" in Satkhira, wrote on her verified Facebook page, "Come Nadira Apa. We dropped the liberation war quota, you had protested against the women's quota, you have been selectively sent to the Perfect District. We will work together here with equal rights, this time you will feel better. Welcome to Satkhira Apa."

Many, like Shampa Goswami, welcomed Assistant Professor Nadira Yasmin to Satkhira.