Professor Khondoker Nasiruddin, vice chancellor (VC) of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) of Gopalganj, has charged that several media outlets are running false reports accusing him of verbally abusing a female student.
He said he did not scold or make lewd comments about second year law student student Faatema Tuz Zinia.
The VC gave his rejoinder comments addressing a press briefing at his office on the university premises on Tuesday.
“Many news portals are publishing false, fabricated, and baseless reports on the university’s recent developments,” he said.
“The portals did so without even double checking the information that they used in the reports. They also did not gather the information from the university administration, but ran one-sided news,” the VC added.
The press meet was organized in the wake of growing criticism and protests after BSMRSTU suspended Zinia on September 10 for posting a status on her Facebook account.
The university authorities at that time claimed the Facebook status tarnished the university’s image. Zinia is Daily Sun’s BSMRSTU correspondent.
Prof Nasiruddin said: “Zinia was not suspended just for the social media post. She made indecent, controversial, and objectionable comments regarding some teachers of the university. She also circulated propaganda about them. Zinia has been trying to further defame the university by keeping in touch with controversial figures and those who are against the government.”
Zinia also tried to stop the university admission test by hacking its website, he said, adding: “She even tried hacking the Facebook accounts and email of several teachers.”
She made wicked comments and propagated falsehoods regarding the mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the VC added.
He also said that any student plotting against the university or insulting teachers would be punished.
After the allegations regarding Zinia surfaced, she was summoned to his office, the VC said.
“During interrogation, she made insulting comments. At one stage, I called Zinia ill-mannered as I would if she were my child,” he said.
“But she recorded the conversation without my permission, and then circulated it online on social media,” the VC said.
“News outlets published reports based on the audio tape that Zinia leaked, accusing me of verbally abusing her,” Nasiruddin maintained.
Contacted, Zinia said the VC did not behave decently with her.
“I did not expect him to call me ill-mannered, which embarrassed me. He cannot use such a term as a father figure or as the VC,” she said.
Zinia further said she did not do whatever the VC accused her of at the press conference.
“I did not do anything that tarnished the university’s image,” Zinia said.
“All I wrote on my Facebook status was about what responsibilities the head of the university must have,” she added.
For the past few days, campus reporters of various public universities, including Dhaka University, have been demanding Nasiruddin’s removal for allegedly running the university in an autocratic manner.
Protestors also demanded the withdrawal of Zinia’s suspension.
Pointing out the VC’s “controversial activities” — an affair with one of his subordinates — they urged the Education Ministry to launch an investigation and remove him immediately.