Bangladesh professor fired for spreading misinformation about trans people
BRAC University teacher criticized inclusion of third-gender people in textbooks
A leading organization advocating for the rights of LGBTQ people in Bangladesh has come to the defense of a university that fired a professor who spread misinformation about third-gender people and encouraged his followers to deface a textbook for school children that included information about transgender people.
Asif Mahtab Utsho, who was an adjunct profession at BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, spoke out against a textbook used for 12 and 13-year-olds at a seminar on the new education curriculum organized by the National Teacher Forum, a pro-Islamic teachers’ forum in Dhaka on Jan 19.
The inclusion of the lesson ‘the Story of Sharifa,’ in a chapter on similarities and differences between people stirred debate among parents after the distribution of the books earlier this year. Mahtab urged his followers to buy the textbook, tear up two pages about trans issues, and then return it for resale in protest.
Mahtab also made many inflammatory statements about the LGBTQ community, alleging that “elites” were forcing youth to be LGBTQ. He also claimed that in European countries, universities force individuals to be gay, and if you don’t comply, you are expelled from the university and cannot secure employment.
“Laws will be passed in Bangladesh – the boys who identify as girls will get jobs, and those speaking against this will be fined and jailed for one year. This is the reality. If this law is passed, we are done for,” Mahtab said.
After his statement went viral on social media, BRAC University decided on Jan 21 not to extend his contract, leading to demonstrations by some pro-Islamic-minded students advocating for Mahtab’s reinstatement and a ban on transgender students. Protesting students threatened to stop paying university fees and boycott classes if Mahtab were not reinstated.
Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) was quick to denounce Mahtab’s actions.
“Mahtab’s advocacy for tearing up pages of a textbook… not only demonstrates a lack of respect for educational resources but also contributes to the dissemination of misleading narratives within the community. Such actions undermine the values of education, inclusivity, and critical thinking that educational institutions strive to instill in their students,” the group said in a statement.
JBMF also commended BRAC University for severing ties with Mahtab.
“Inclusion of diverse perspectives in educational materials, including the positive portrayal of third gender issues, is an essential part of fostering understanding and tolerance among students. Mahtab’s attempt to derail this constructive approach by promoting destructive actions and false propaganda is not only detrimental to the educational environment but also goes against the principles of a tolerant and inclusive society,” the group said.
Bangladesh has long been divided over citizens who identify themselves as LGBTQ, transgender, hijras, or third gender.
“People outside South Asia call them transgender, but South Asian society and most hijras consider themselves to be third gender — neither male nor female, not transitioning,” explains Benar News.
In 2013, the Bangladesh government officially recognized hijras as a class of people. The latest census counted 12,629 hijras in Bangladesh.
The inclusion of transgender issues in textbooks has been a controversial topic for more than a year.
An Islamic political party organized a massive demonstration against transgender-inclusive textbooks in January 2023.
