Islamic University students on Wednesday staged a demonstration on the campus in Kushtia, following the circulation of an audio clip in which a professor made derogatory remarks about a female student鈥檚 clothing.
In the recording, which ran for four minutes and seven seconds, the Al-Quran and Islamic studies department鈥檚 chairman Professor Nasir Uddin Mizhi was heard yelling at students and making derogatory remarks about a female student鈥檚 attire.
The recording was posted on Facebook at around 10:30pm on Tuesday from an account belonging to one Abdullah Bin Asad, sparking anger among the students.
Professor Mizhi, however, in a hastily arranged press conference at about 10:00am Wednesday apologised for his behaviour.
Alleging that the professor behaved in a deeply misogynistic manner, the students formed a human chain and sit-in in front of the university鈥檚 administrative building, demanding accountability within 72 hours.
Protesters at the demonstrations chanted, 鈥楴o one has the right to shame a female student over her clothing鈥�.
The remarks didn鈥檛 just insult women, they dishonoured the memory of Sajid Abdullah, who was strangled to death, protesting students said.听
Students at the university have been holding protests since July 17 when Sajid Abdullah, a student of the same department, was found dead in the pond of Shah Azizur Rahman Hall on the campus.
The viscera report later confirmed that he died from strangulation.
Regular protests are held on the campus as no arrest has been made so far. 听
After the protests, the students submitted a five-point demand to vice-chancellor Professor Nakib Muhammad Nasrullah at his office.
Their demands are: immediate arrest of Sajid Abdullah鈥檚 killers, dismissal of Professor Mizhi, formation of an independent investigation committee within 72 hours, guarantee of freedom of expression on the campus, and assurance that no protester will face academic or disciplinary retaliation.
At his morning press conference on the day, Professor Mizhi offered an unconditional apology.
He described the incident as 鈥榩ersonal鈥� attributing his words to a 鈥榮lip of the tongue鈥� and 鈥榓 moment of human weakness鈥�.
鈥業 deeply regret my inappropriate remarks and apologise to all the affected students,鈥� he said.
Vice-chancellor Professor Nakib while receiving the demands from the protesting students regretted the derogatory comments from Professor Mizhi.
鈥楽uch remarks are unacceptable from any teacher. I鈥檝e heard the professor has expressed regret and on behalf of the administration, we also extend our apology,鈥� he told journalists present at the time. .
Regarding Sajid鈥檚 killing, he said that the Criminal Investigation Department was now investigating the murder case.
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