Catholic college in Bangladesh accuses pro-Islamist teachers of campus disruption

A Catholic college in northeastern Bangladesh says a group of pro-Islamist teachers is trying to destabilize its campus by inciting students and spreading false claims online, prompting police deployment on campus.

Notre Dame College Mymensingh accused the teachers of leading a class boycott, fabricating social media posts, and planning demonstrations against administrators, Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA) reported Aug. 18. 

The college is run by priests of the Holy Cross Congregation and opened in 2014. It serves about 3,000 students and has 50 teachers, according to UCA. 

In a letter requesting police protection, Principal Father Thadius Hembram warned of potential threats to the college and urged authorities to maintain order. 

“We fear harm to life and property of the college,” Fr. Hembram wrote, according to the outlet. “Therefore, we are requesting you to help us maintain law and order until the situation normalizes.”

The conflict began July 28, when 11 teachers launched a boycott demanding benefits such as a provident fund, gratuity, and new service rules, UCA reported. Three later withdrew from the boycott and apologized. 

One college official told UCA the teachers are “pro-Islamist” and targeting the Catholic-run school in light of the country’s recent political shifts. 

The official said the administration is “always open for discussion and finding a solution” when teachers are unhappy, “but boycotting classes, inciting students, and flooding social media with fabricated posts show that they have a malicious agenda.”

According to UCA, the Catholic Church in Bangladesh operates about 1,100 institutions, including one university, 18 colleges, and 80 secondary schools. It serves roughly 300,000 students, most of whom are Muslim.