'Make probe report public'
Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury addresses a rally on the Dhaka University campus yesterday protesting sexual harassment at Jahangirnagar University.Photo: STAR
Students and academics yesterday demanded that the Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities make public the probe report on sexual harassment by Sanwar Hossain Sunny, associate professor of Drama and Dramatics department of the university.
They also demanded forming a new probe committee under the supervision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to look into the incident neutrally.
The demands came from a demonstration of 'Jahangirnagar against Harassment' on the Dhaka University campus.
The speakers at the meeting also demanded withdrawal of the acting vice chancellor Prof Mohammad Moniruzzaman, formulating a policy to resist sexual harassment in the universities and punishment to the accused teacher.
Noted academician Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury said it is a matter of shame that such incidents occur in the society.
Urging all to wage a war against such crimes, he said, “Such crimes are like diseases. So we need to wage a war against these crimes to bring about changes in the society.”
Noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud said the probe report that declared Sunny innocent should be made public within 24 hours.
The chief justice should interfere in the matter and the president, too, as it is not a movement of only a few students,” he said.
Prof MM Akash of Dhaka University said the JU syndicate said that they could not prove Sunny guilty, so the probe report that could not prove him guilty should be published and a fresh probe committee should be formed to look into the matter.
Engineer Sheikh Mohammad Shahidullah, convener of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Electricity and Port, said a new investigation committee should be formed under the supervision of the University Grants Commission as the investigation by JU authorities might not be neutral.
Journalist Kamal Lohani said charges should also be brought against the syndicate of the university since they said Sunny is blameless.
Dhaka University Associate Professor Robayet Ferdous, Assistant Professor Kabery Gayen, JU teacher Fauzia Akter, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad General Secretary Maleka Banu, Prof Piash Karim of Brac University and leaders of different students' organisations spoke at the meeting in presence of a large number of JU and DU students.
Meanwhile, Anti-Imperialism Seven Student Organisations at a press conference at DU demanded immediate removal of Sunny and the JU VC, alleging the VC was involved in the conspiracy to save him.
Representatives from Biplabi Chhatra-Jubo Andolan, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Pahari Chhatra Parishad, Jatiya Chhatra Dal, Biplabi Chhatra Sangha, Sanskritir Naya Setu and Pragatir Paribrajak Dal were present at the press conference at Madhu's Canteen.
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