The Jagannath University (JnU) authorities on Thursday suspended Abu Shahed Emon, a lecturer of the Film and Television Department, for allegedly sexually harassing a student.
"Emon was suspended after the probe body presented initial evidence of sexual harassment against him while Professor Junaid Halim has been relieved from his chairmanship for not assisting the student after she filed a complaint", Jagannath University Proctor Prof Jahangir Hossain told BSS.
The decisions came from an emergency syndicate meeting of the university, said Jahangir, adding "JnU Social Science faculty dean Professor Dr Md Abul Hossen has been appointed to replace Junaid Halim".
The university authorities also decided to make necessary arrangements including forming an exam committee for the student so that she can sit for supplementary exams, added the proctor.
Earlier on March 18, the JnU student lodged a complaint with the DB, stating that she has been subjected to threats of death and expulsion from the university since coming forward with the complain of sexual harassment.
The student of Film and Television Department filed the complaint in December, 2021, stating that she was sexually harassed by Abu Shahed Emon.
Later, she wrote several times to the university vice-chancellor, UGC chairman, and even the president alleging that, after filing the complaint, she faced retaliation from the department head and others.
They also threatened her with expulsion from the university and even death, she alleged.
The vice-chancellor said: “The syndicate has taken this decision as sexual harassment and mental torture has been proven in the report given by the sexual harassment prevention cell. This decision has been taken as there is truth in the complaint filed by the aggrieved student against the teacher. After I came here as Vice-Chancellor, I constituted another Board of Inquiry. We hope to get that report very soon.”
She also said that the temporary dismissal order of Amman Siddique, a student of the university and Assistant Proctor Din Islam, in connection with the death of Fairuz Abontika, a student of the law department, has been discussed with the syndicate members. The syndicate members have also been informed about the probe committee constituted to investigate the death of Abontika.
