Cumilla University: Teacher accused of sexual harassment, destroying evidence

A female student of Cumilla University has filed a written complaint against a teacher, saying he sexually harassed her and destroyed evidence saved in her cellphone.

In her complaint filed on January 15, the student of evening master’s programme accused that Dr Ali Rezwan Talukder, head of English department, used to phone her asking to go to his room. He told her that if she built “immoral relationship” with him, he would give her good marks in exams.

Rezwan had added her to Facebook and WhatsApp, she said in the complaint.

On January 13, before she sat for an exam held from 5pm to 8:30pm, she handed over her mobile to invigilators. After the exam, she found her memory card destroyed and texts they exchanged deleted, she alleged.

Those bore the evidence of harassment, said the student, adding that Ali Rezwan, who was present as an invigilator, remained absent for 30-35 minutes during the test.

Following the incident, she went to Dr Habibur Rahman, director of evening master’s programme, and filed the complaint.

Denying the allegation, Ali Rezwan, however, said the student is a “psycho”. “She wanted to make immoral relationship with me so that I regard her with favour. But, I never responded to her call.”

“I had left the exam hall 40 minutes before the exam finished and didn’t return,” he said.

 “I am embarrassed on her allegations. She is spreading this information against meas he failed to benefit from me,” he said.

When contacted, Dr Habibur said, “We have received the written complaint. We’ll look into it.”

Registrar Dr Abu Taher said, “We’ve taken the allegation into cognizance.”

Vice Chancellor Emran Kabir Chowdhury said, “After formal procedure, I will form an independent body to investigate the allegations.”