Students of Bashundhara branch Viqarunnisa Noon School & College staged demonstrations on Wednesday, protesting the suspension of a teacher over alleged allegations of preventing students from wearing hijab.

The student also demanded immediate reinstatement of the suspended teacher, Fazilatun Nahar and fair investigation into the incident and punishment for those who were spreading misinformation.

The students brought out a procession on the campus protesting the suspension order of the teacher and staged a demonstration after boycotting their classes around 11:30 am.

Earlier on Tuesday, the authorities concerned of the school issued a notice suspending Fazilatun Nahar, signed by its acting principal Mazeda Begum, citing allegations of removing students from class over wearing hijab.

Rokaiya Binte Mazhar, a class IX student of the school said, “Our teacher didn’t ask us not to wear  hijab—she told us to wear it properly. The panel students who were working as volunteers were told by the teacher to go outside and settle the matter after they went to that class in the last period. The panel students took the students who did not follow the dress code outside and talked to them for 8-10 minutes.”

“She’s being targeted in a planned conspiracy based on just 10 minutes of that class period,” said Rokaiya.

She also demanded reinstatement of the teacher and action against those spreading false allegations.

Meher Afroz Konok, a class X student, said “Our teacher only instructed students to follow the dress code. Now she’s facing false propaganda.”

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Anisa Karim, a former student of the school, who studied from 2009 to 2019, said, “Neither Nahar apa nor any other teacher has ever opposed hijab. I believe the allegations against her are baseless. We want a proper investigation and justice against those defaming her through false accusations, including some media outlets.”

According to the official notice of the school, the teacher was suspended following a decision by the institution’s ad hoc committee.

It is alleged that 22 students from class six were allegedly removed from class for wearing the hijab at the school.

The notice also mentioned that the suspension is temporary, not a permanent dismissal and the teacher has been asked to provide a written explanation within seven working days.

However, teacher Fazilatun Nahar, denied all allegations, calling them ‘entirely false and fabricated.’

“I didn’t do anything of the sort. There aren’t even twenty-two students in that class who wear hijab—only nine or eleven do. I told them to wear the hijab properly when they come to school,” she said.

 “When I entered the class, I saw volunteers checking students’ uniforms, nails and hair. I asked them why they waited until the last period and told them to take the students outside and complete their checking duties there. I did not send the girls out,” she added.

She also said to take legal action against the notice.

Contacted, acting principal Mazeda Begum said, “The teacher was suspended based on the complaint. We are conducting an investigation. We believe the facts will come out through this process and a final decision will follow accordingly.”