UGC submits guidelines to prevent sexual harassment
The University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday submitted guidelines to prevent incidents of sexual harassment at the educational institutions proposing highest punishment of permanent expulsion for the convicted students and termination or compulsory retirement for the convicted teachers and staffs from their institutions.
UGC Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam formally handed over the copy of the policy titled 'Stopping sexual harassment in higher educational institution' to Deputy Secretary Ranjit Kumar Sen at a function at his office in the city.
A 16-member committee led by UGC member Prof AHM Zehadul Karim was formed to prepare the policy.
There are provisions for different types of punishment in the policy according to the degree of crimes and categories of the convicted persons.
In case of student, the information about his expulsion will be circulated in all educational institutions and he will be handed over to police as per state law.
If the convict is a teacher or an official or an employee, he will also be handed over to police as per state law besides his termination or compulsory retirement from the job.
According to the severity of the complaint, an investigation team would complete its job within 60 days.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Nazrul Islam said the implementation of the policy is the most important thing.
He hoped that the caretaker government would approve the policy in its cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on November 20.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanom said, “Finalisation of the policy is the result of our long-term movement and the spirit of the policy is praiseworthy.”
She also called for including gender sensitivity in the curricula.
UGC member Prof Amena Begum, Dhaka University Proctor Prof AK Firoz Ahmed, Prof Mehtab Khanam, Prof Zarina Rahman Khan, Prof Abdul Hakim Sarker, Jahangirnagar University Prof SM Nurul Alam, BNWLA Executive Director Advocate Salma Ali and UGC Deputy Secretary Md Mokhlefur Rahman were present on the occasion.
Comments