Over the years, allegations of sexual harassment of female students by teachers at universities have been common, but in contrary to a six-year-old High Court directive, there have not been mentionable initiatives to address the problem.
The High Court in 2009 issued a directive to prevent sexual harassment at educational institutions, workplaces, and in public places.
A study by Human Development Research Centre revealed in 2012 found that around 76% of the female students at universities face sexual harassment within and outside the campus by campus-related people.
The highest rate is 87% in public universities, followed by 76% in university colleges, 66% in private universities and 54% in medical colleges.
Many students do not file complaints due to social stigma and considering the reputation of their families.
On September 14, Dhaka University suspended Profe Saiful Islam, head of Theater and Performance Studies Department of Dhaka University, for allegedly harassing a student.
On August 14 this year, Jagannath University demoted associate professor Md Shakhawat Hossain to assistant professor and sent him on compulsory leave for sexually harassing a student.
According to the Sexual Harassment Prevention Guideline 2009, all educational institutions were asked to constitute complaint committees to receive complaints, investigate and recommend.
University Grants Commission (UGC) data shows that only 34 out of the 80 private universities in the country have so far formed committees. Public universities, with 29 out of the 37 having such committees, are well ahead.
The UGC nominates representatives in the complaint committees if universities contact, said UGC Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan.
According to an unpublished study of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA), three-fourths of students interviewed from five universities do not know that there is a HC guideline and that such committees exist on their campuses.
Rabita Rahman Shouthi, a student of English at the Jahangirnagar University, said: “There are no awareness raising campaigns about sexual harassment.”
Advocate Mitali Jahan of BNWLA said committees in universities like Jahangirnagar, Shahjalal and Dhaka University are active, but the committees in most other universities could be found only on papers.
UN Women, in association with the UGC, has been operating a project to address issues relating to sexual harassment at universities since 2012.