Sexual Harassment at Haji Danesh Univ: Asstt professor fired

Ramzan Ali, assistant professor of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur, has been terminated from his position permanently for sexually harassing a student of his department in 2017.

He was a faculty member of biochemistry and molecular biology department of the university.

Regent Board, the highest decision making forum of HSTU, took the decision at its 48th board meeting on the campus on Saturday, in presence of 14 out of 19 of its members and Vice Chancellor Dr M Abul Kashem as chair.

Several members of the board confirmed the decision to The Daily Star. The board's decision will be delivered to Ramzan in written, said a member.

A section of teachers of HSTU and Dinajpur chapter of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad had long been demanding Ramzan's termination.

The university suspended Ramzan on July 30, 2018 after a probe body found the allegation against him to be true.

Officials said a master's student brought the allegations against Ramzan in September 2017, accusing him of trying to coerce her into an illicit relationship, and unfairly grading her exams once she turned him down.

Eventually, the university launched a probe into the allegation and found it true.

Asked, Ramzan said he did not know about the decision.