Unjust Expulsion: The Unspoken Price of Courage for a Bangladeshi Scholar at SAU

Sudeepto Das, a brilliant 26-year-old Bangladeshi PhD student, has become the face of a larger battle for student rights and institutional fairness in India. His story is one of a promising academic career jeopardized by a brave act of humanity and an administration's politically motivated response. Das was unjustly expelled from South Asian University (SAU) for what the institution calls “serious misconduct,” a charge rooted in a minor incident that has been exaggerated to punish an outspoken student leader.

The controversy stems from a minor scuffle on February 26, 2025, during Maha Shivaratri, when a politically-motivated group, the ABVP, attempted to forcibly remove non-vegetarian food from the university mess. When a female student, the elected Mess Secretary, was surrounded and physically intimidated for upholding the right to food for all, Sudeepto Das did what any person of conscience would: he intervened to protect her. He did not engage in violence; he simply stood up against intimidation. This act of courage, an instinctive response to aggression, is what the university now cites as a reason for his expulsion.

The timing and nature of the university's action reveal its vindictive intent. Five months after the incident, while Das was on vacation, he was served an expulsion notice. This was a classic institutional move designed to catch the student off guard and bypass due process. Das, a recipient of the prestigious SAARC Silver Jubilee Scholarship, immediately wrote a letter of regret and a subsequent "unconditional apology," hoping to resolve the matter and continue his research. However, the university administration, in a shocking display of non-cooperation, has remained silent.

This incident is not an isolated one. Sudeepto Das has long been a voice for student welfare. He courageously raised concerns against the administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he and his friends crowdfunded to help people access life-saving resources while the university was focused on vacating hostels. He also stood in solidarity with students protesting for increased scholarships in 2022, for which he was suspended and fined. His palpable presence and assertive nature in the face of injustice have made him a target.

In fact, prior to the February incident, members of the ABVP had already demonstrated hostility toward international students like Das. In a student WhatsApp group message, an ABVP member, who was a prime accused in the February incident, explicitly warned international students against getting involved in Indian politics or religious issues. This highlights a pattern of intimidation. When the same group later organized protests on campus with factually incorrect claims about the status of Hindus in Bangladesh, Das—as a proud citizen of his country—refuted their misinformation. This act of defending his homeland's truth likely intensified the animosity against him.

The Fight for Justice

In a significant development that was not initially reported, Sudeepto Das and his legal team have taken a resolute stand against the university's unjust action. Recognizing that his appeals for dialogue were being ignored, Das filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, challenging the arbitrary and disproportionate nature of his expulsion. The court's intervention is a crucial step toward holding SAU accountable for its politically-charged decisions.

Das's parents in Dhaka have also publicly supported his decision to fight back, a testament to the family's belief in justice. His journey is no longer just about his academic career; it’s about sending a clear message that institutions cannot weaponize minor incidents to silence dissent and punish individuals for acts of integrity.

Sudeepto Das is a victim of a system that favors conformity over courage. His expulsion is a grave injustice, not only to him but to the very ideals of academic freedom and compassion. The global academic community is watching, and it is imperative that SAU corrects its course and reinstates a student who has done nothing but stood up for what is right.