Chittagong University acting registrar SM Monirul Hasan has announced to ensure the punishment of those involved in sexual harassment of students within four working days.
He has promised to resign along with the proctor and the members of the proctorial body if this is not done. After his promise, the students stopped the protest at around 12:30 pm on Wednesday and returned to the hall.
Three days ago, the students were protesting to demand the punishment of the accused in the case of sexually assaulting a student on the campus. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the university authorities set a deadline for the students to return to the hall by 10 pm.This caused renewed anger among the students. The decision was protested in various programs on the campus on Wednesday. It is said that, without identifying anyone involved in crimes like sexual harassment, restrictions have been imposed on the movement of female students. A group of students of Pritilata Hall decided to go to the Vice Chancellor Shireen Akhtar demanding the withdrawal of this decision and ensuring security in the campus.When 30-35 female students marched towards the Vice-Chancellor’s residence at around 10:30 PM, members of the Proctoral Body blocked their way. At one point, the angry students started a protest by standing in front of the hall. They immediately demanded the resignation of Proctor Rabiul Hasan Bhuiyan. Later, other students joined the protest after leaving the hall. After 11 pm, the students started protesting in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. More than hundred students participated in the protest there.
The protestors raised slogans demanding punishment for those involved in the sexual assault of the student, ensuring security in the campus and resignation of the proctor. At one point, acting registrar Monirul Hasan came to the spot and tried to calm them down. He later promised in writing that the culprits would be punished within four working days, failing which he would resign. Then at 12:35 PM, the students went back to the hall.A female student was sexually assaulted and beaten up by five youths on the campus last Sunday at 9:30 pm. According to the student, hearing the clothes and speech of the accused persons, it seems that they are students of the university. Five youths tied up the student in the botanical garden area of the university and recorded the video on the mobile phone. When a friend who was with him protested, he was also beaten. Later, the youths left the two with the mobile phone and wallet.
This is not the first incident of sexual harassment and harassment of female students in Chittagong University. Earlier, on September 21 last year, two female students were harassed inside the campus.
Expressing anger at the incident of sexual harassment of female students in the campus, the third year student of the fisheries department of the university said, “We are not safe next to the hall. So where is safe? From repeated harassment to attempted rape incidents are happening. The university administration has not taken any effective action so far. We are suffering from insecurity in these incidents.’
The victim student has filed a case accusing five unknown persons in the incident of sexual harassment on Sunday. However, the police have not been able to identify anyone involved in the incident so far.
Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge of Hathajari police station, said that the case took place on Wednesday afternoon. However, they had already taken care of the matter. The investigation has already started.
Condolences to the Chhatra League president
Chittagong University Chhatra League president Rezaul Haque has been issued a show cause notice (show cause notice) by the Central Chhatra League. The notice was signed by BLA Central President Al Nahian Khan and General Secretary Bhakti Bhattacharya on Tuesday night. However, the central leaders did not mention the specific reason for the shock to Rezaul Haque.
When asked about this, Chhatra League leader Rezaul Haque told Prothom Alo that he did not know why he was asked to show the reason. He is going to Dhaka to find out and answer about this. However, Mohammad Elias, the former organizing secretary of the university branch of the Chhatra League, said that he had heard that Rezaul Haque had prevented the student from filing a written complaint on the sexual harassment incident last Monday. Earlier, on September 21 last year, four of his followers were accused of harassing a student. Apart from this, he is accused of being involved in various activities against the organization. So Central Chhatra League may have mourned him.
When asked about the complaint of obstructing the victim of sexual harassment, Rezaul Haque said that the girl called him after the incident of harassment. He went for his help. He didn’t stop. He claimed to have asked Proctor Rabiul Hasan Bhuiyan to quickly identify the people involved.
