As a leading national institution, Dhaka University authorities should take more of a lead in ensuring students treat others with respect, and that no tolerance is shown for sexual harassment.
In recent months, a rising number of female students have reported the university is not taking clear action to respond to complaints about unwanted sexual attention and verbal coercion.
While the acting proctor has acknowledged such incidents are occurring more frequently and provided some assurances, local police have corroborated student concerns by saying it has often been difficult to initiate legal proceedings because the university authorities have not always cooperated as expected.
It is highly concerning that more is not being done to combat sexual harassment within our leading public universities.
As a society, we need to act collectively against all forms of non-physical harassment. It is the persistence and prevalence of archaic and discriminatory attitudes that encourage some men to harass women and young girls from all walks of life, with impunity. Recent research notes that over three quarters of female school and college students have been subjected to so -alled “eve teasing” at one time or another. and this is a major factor behind female dropout rates.
If nothing is done to stigmatise and prevent sexual harassment, this makes it even harder for society to deter and bring down violent crimes against women. such as dowry-related violence, rape, trafficking, and acid attacks.
University authorities have to become more effective in punishing offenders and in raising awareness to prevent sexual harassment.
