A group of female students of Dhaka University on Monday submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor of the university Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, demanding the reformation of the Sexual Harassment Cell, the establishment of such cells in every department, and the resolution of complaints within 15 working days.
The students stated that despite the High Court鈥檚 11-point directive prohibiting sexual harassment in workplaces and educational institutions, the actions and effectiveness of complaint committees in preventing harassment remained invisible.
They emphasised that there is no effective remedy system in place, particularly in universities, to combat sexual harassment, and Dhaka University is no exception.
鈥楢s a result, proper justice has not been served in cases involving many harassers, including the Institute of Social Welfare and Research professor Nurul Islam and mass communication and journalism聽 department professor Nadir Junayed,鈥� they said.
The decision to keep Saiful Islam, a teacher of theatre and performance studies department, in his position despite being identified as a sexual harasser shows that the university administration is functioning as a rehabilitation centre for harassers, they added.
The memorandum further stated that the anti-sexual harassment cell on campus must be restructured and activated as soon as possible, with student representation ensured in the cell.
It also mentioned that previous complaints should be reinvestigated, and those accused should be relieved of all academic and administrative duties.
The others demands made by the students are ensuring that anti-sexual harassment cell coordinate with the central anti-harassment cell to resolve all complaints.
Nujia Hasin Rasha from the department of linguistics, Ania Fahmin from the department of anthropology, Israt Jahan Emu from the department of management and information systems, Maliha Tabassum from the department of finance, and Rahnuma Ahmed Niret from the department of physics were present during the submission of the memorandum.
