A University of Dhaka graduate who topped the Department of Development Studies has refused to accept the Dean’s Award, saying she could not celebrate recognition from an institution she believes failed to protect students whose academic careers were affected by their political identities.

AR Tahseen Jahan, who graduated first in her department, announced her decision in a Facebook post on Monday.

In her post, Tahseen said she had waited for the award since the beginning of her four-year undergraduate studies and had worked extensively to achieve it.

Tahseen said some teachers supported her right to education, eventually allowing her to sit for the final viva online while she remained away from campus.

Professor Mahabobor Rahman, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, said he was not informed of Tahseen’s decision to refuse the award.

The chairperson of the Department of Development Studies, Profes Nayeem Sultana, said Tahseen informed the department after 2024 that she was apprehensive about coming to the university to sit for her final viva.

The department then informed the university’s proctorial body and asked her to come to campus in accordance with university rules.

However, as she was staying abroad, the department later decided to facilitate her viva online, she said.

The chairperson also said she was unaware of any mob attack on Tahseen, as she knew that Tahseen had been residing in Canada since 2024.

‘It is not possible for us to know what happened between her and her batchmates,’ she said.