A female student complained in front of Vice-Chancellor, she sexually harass in class . Against Hafizul Islam, an Associate Professor of Development Studies Department at Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia. On Monday 1 pm, students started chanting slogans against the teacher at the Rabindra-Nazrul Kala Bhaban, demanded his resignation and declared him unwanted from all departmental activities.
Later they took out a protest procession, paraded different roads of the campus and held a protest demonstration in front of the main gat, a one hour they blocked the university’s main gate. Same time, students chanting slogans, demanded one demand, Hafiz’s resignation; Hafiz’s two cheeks, hit the shoe rhythmically; collaborator of autocracy, Hafiz Hafiz; remove Hafiz, save DS, etc.
The main some allegations are: internal number tampering by create groupings among students, abusing female students in dirty language, joking derogatory comments about the dress of female students, forcing students to go to the every event of BCL, threatening with Shibir tag, supporting homosexuality, creating disputes among senior juniors, preventing students from going to the quota movement, threatening students with BCL leaders at different times.
During the protest, students blocked the main gate of the university and shouted many slogans against teacher Hafiz’s for about an hour, with the intervention of the proctorial body, the protesters left the main gate in the wake of demands from the VC. Later, the Vice-Chancellor heard all the complaints of students in the conference room on administration building, on this time teachers of the proctorial body and Development Studies Department Chairman Atifa Kafi were present .
Same department student, Lamia said, we always fear, when Sir coming to class? insulting to anyone . What dress I wore , where I went, with whom I traveled, in which bus I went to Dhaka, teacher force me to wanted those answers. He is telling me in front of everyone of class that they will beat me by hanging the fan because drank tea in the rain, he also said that I made an obscene gesture. Crying said, he told me harlot, in a class. I want Hafiz’s resignation, doesn’t deserve to be a teacher.
Another student Ananya Rahman said, Sir’s previous habit is abusing students parents . Those who dance are called dancers, others women students are called market girls. In front of us, he have been told that a female student, she tricks of catching customers. He made me do a 100-page assignment to harass but did not submit it. The language of his heinous insult, will not end.
Same department student Maruf said, Asif our classmate was a posted leader by BCL. When I participated in the anti-discrimination student movement, he gave thread by Sir. However, as a classmate of the department, I was looking at him with forgiveness from the batch. Which I have shown flexibility. But with the teacher, he (Asif) threaded and said that he will see Maruf. We always in fear.
The accused teacher Hafizul Islam did not receive the phone call, in many times. Proctor Prof Dr Shahinuzzaman said, administration will take appropriate action if the allegations levelled by students of his department against a teacher, found to be true. But there is a method for anything. We have asked a delegation of the students to go and talk to the Vice-Chancellor . If they want, the administration will definitely listen to them and take necessary measures.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Naqib Mohammad Nasrullah said, students allegations are serious. So far there was no chance to talk. We will soon sit with the teachers and investigate the matter and take the next step.
