Education
DU suspends appointment of teacher over sexual harassment allegation
Dhaka University’s Institute of Business Administration’s (IBA) board of governance has suspended an appointment of a teacher over an allegation of a student’s sexual harassment.
Prof Sitesh Chandra Bachar, pro vice chancellor (education) of the university, said, “The matter of appointment was raised at the Board of Governance. The appointment was suspended. The selection board was notified of the issue for review.”
Earlier, Saju Saha, an associate professor of marketing at Jahangirnagar University (JU), and three other candidates' names were selected for appointment.
Due to the allegation of sexual harassment, his appointment was suspended on Monday afternoon in a meeting at the vice chancellor's lounge.
JU student lodges sexual harassment complaint against teacher
On Monday (1 April), a female student from JU's marketing department filed a formal complaint against Saju for sexual harassment.
Earlier on March 23, the student, in a Facebook post, made the allegation of sexual harassment against teacher Saju Saha.
Following the Facebook post, the accused teacher repeatedly tried to convince the victim, saying that his political career would be ruined once the matter gets disclosed.
On March 24, Saju Saha also lodged a general diary at Mirpur Model Police Station, seeking legal action against the student for uploading the Facebook post "defaming" him on social media.
In open letter, Buet students appeal to PM for a politics-free campus
Students of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) have appealed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, seeking her intervention to maintain their campus as a zone free of political activities.
This request was articulated through an open letter to the Prime Minister, the contents of which were shared during a press briefing held Tuesday afternoon in front of the Prof MA Rashid Administrative building on the BUET campus.
We envision a system where Buet students will choose their leaders: BCL President
During the briefing, students publicly read their letter, appealing directly to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit their campus. They expressed their aspiration to demonstrate the potential of a politics-free educational environment, confident in their ability to surpass global technological institutions if given a chance to focus solely on academic and research excellence.
Following legal reversal of ban, general students and BCL respond with differing visions for Buet’s future
"Our earnest appeal to you is to implement the policies adopted by the greatest Bengali of all times, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Please keep student politics out of Buet, even if it requires reforming the law. Because law is created for justice,” the letter asserts, echoing the students' collective desire for an educational environment focused on innovation, free of student politics.
Student politics could be returning to Buet, VC indicates
Following legal reversal of ban, general students and BCL respond with differing visions for Buet’s future
In the wake of the High Court's decision to overturn the ban on student politics at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), students convened a press briefing at 6:02 pm on Monday, voicing their aspiration for a campus devoid of political activities.
At the briefing, the students articulated their reverence and trust in the nation's judiciary, emphasizing their stance against the incursion of external political figures onto the campus, notably the incident on March 28 deemed a breach of university regulations.
Student politics could be returning to Buet, VC indicates
They appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to align with the wishes of the Buet teachers and students in sustaining a politics-free educational environment.
In contrast, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, addressing the media on Monday afternoon, welcomed the High Court's decision as a restoration of constitutional rights previously curtailed by the university's administrative policies. Hossain expressed optimism about the resumption of regular student political activities at Buet, pledging to pursue this objective in accordance with the High Court's directive and Buet's ordinances.
HC wants to know why ban on politics in Buet shouldn't be declared illegal; stays decision
Buet's administration has declared its intention to comply with the High Court's decision, signaling a potential shift in the campus's political landscape.
Subsequent to these developments, supporters of the Bangladesh Chhatra League at Buet organized a procession, culminating in a tribute at the Buet Shaheed Minar.
BCL no longer hiding its intention to rule BUET campus
System analyst of Technical Education Board, aide arrested for selling fake certificates
Two people, including the system analyst of the Bangladesh Technical Education Board, were arrested for their alleged involvement in selling fake certificates.
The arrestees are Bangladesh Technical Education Board System Analyst ATM Shamsuzzaman and his associate Faisal Hossain.
Several detective teams of Dhaka Metropolitan (Lalbagh Division) conducted drives in the capital’s South and Central Pirerbagh, Mirpur, and Agargaon areas and arrested them around 12:30 pm on Monday, DB's Lalbagh Zone's deputy commissioner Mashiur Rahman said.
During the drives, the law enforcers seized multiple computers, laptops, printers, thousands of original certificates and blank copies of mark sheets stolen from the Technical Education Board, hundreds of fabricated certificates and transcripts, CVs, and many important documents from their possession.
Shamsuzzaman joined the Bangladesh Technical Education Board as a system analyst in 2009. Now, he has been promoted to senior system analyst.
In 2017, he was suspended on the charge of selling certificates but was reinstated by the High Court.
During primary interrogation, he confessed to selling more than 5,000 marksheets during this time.
“We suspect that many others are involved with this crime, and we are trying to find them,” said the police official.
The process of filling a case is underway in this regard, he said.
Student politics could be returning to Buet, VC indicates
In view of the High Court's statement that “There is no obstacle to student politics in Bangladesh University of Engineering (Buet), Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satya Prasad Majumdar today (April 01, 2024) gave a clear indication that student politics might be returning to Buet campus.
Speaking to the media at his office today, the Buet VC said, “We have to accept what the High Court says. Court order must be obeyed. To implement this, we have to go through some process.”
HC wants to know why ban on politics in Buet shouldn't be declared illegal; stays decision
The Vice-Chancellor said that in order to maintain discipline on the campus, students, teachers and the administration have to reach a mutual decision, and for this to happen, discussion is necessary.
“We will look into the matter based on discussion among teachers, students and the administration,” the Buet VC added.
Read more: Following legal reversal of ban, general students and BCL respond with differing visions for Buet’s future
BCL no longer hiding its intention to rule BUET campus
Bangladesh Chhatra League, the ruling Awami League's powerful student front, staged a large counter-rally on Sunday against the ongoing movement of BUET students to keep their campus ringfenced from student politics.
The BCL rally left no room for any more doubt that they believe it is time for the BUET authorities to lift the ban imposed on student politics in October 2019, following the macabre killing of Abrar Fahad by a group of BCL activists in a BUET dorm.
They demanded reintroduction of student politics in BUET.
The BCL protest rally started around 12pm on Sunday.
As per the announcement, the rally was scheduled to start at 11 am. Before starting the rally, the leaders and activists gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar with processions joining in from different halls of Dhaka University and various units of Chhatra League's Dhaka Metropolitan units. Leaders and activists kept coming towards Shaheed Minar shouting slogans aimed at painting the apolitical student body of BUET in a communal light.
Imtiaz Hossain Rahim Rabbi, a BUET student who has been acting to facilitate the return of BCL, and with them student politics, to the BUET campus and had his residential seat subsequently cancelled, could be seen at the front of the procession.
BCL president Saddam Hussain delivered an 'ultimatum' to the university administration to reintroduce student politics 'without delay'. Besides, he demanded the restoration of Rabbi's residential seat.
"From this rally we are requesting BUET administration to restart student politics in the campus immediately. The rule you imposed (banning student politics)is a black law. There is nothing in the university ordinance that allows you to ban student politics. It is unconstitutional."
The student body of BUET has been protesting the latest attempt by the BCL leaders and activists to return to the BUET campus as a political entity, that started late last Wednesday (past midnight) with Rabbi inviting the BCL president to the campus and facilitating his entrance.
After that some BCL committee members garlanded their president, marking it out as a distinctly political activity.
Word got around of this seemingly harmless but highly meaningful incident that was meant to act as an icebreaker for BCL's return to the campus throughout Thursday, and the tension around the campus grew palpably.
On Friday, the general students, who over the last 5 years have vigilantly guarded their campus against the often ruinous student politics afflicting many other institutions in the country today, announced they would be boycotting all academic activities including term final exams that were held on Sunday with abysmally low attendance.
The general students have formally asked for a new date to be set for the exams.
After the protest, BCL leaders and activists formed a procession and marched toward BUET Shahid Minar around 2.20 pm and submitted floral bouquets.
Students reject BCL claims
Following the show of strength by BCL, the general students of BUET were forced to clarify how their opposition to student politics on campus does not mean they oppose the spirit of the Liberation War of 1971.
They organised a press conference in front of Dr. MA Rashid administrative building around 5.15pm on Sunday.
Representatives of the general student body said BUET students strongly believe in the spirit of the Liberation War and independence.
"Not wanting student politics on campus does not mean moving away from the ideology of the Liberation War. Rather we students do not want lust for power and greed to hold BUET hostage again," they said.
"We are against Hizb ut Tahrir. If any student is found to be affiliated with such groups, they too should be dismissed."
One of the canards floated by the BCL as part of their tactics to force their way back to BUET has been that the Jamaat e Islami student front Shibir, and the banned Hizbut Tahrir were secretly active among the students in favour of keeping student politics banned and keeping the campus safe.
The general students insisted they are determined to prevent the emergence of such 'evil forces' in BUET.
The students also said that they are willing to resume their academic activities as long as their demands, mainly relating to preserving the ban on student politics and taking action against certain individuals to prevent the repetition of such attempts by BCL in future, are met.
Even before the ban was imposed in 2019, the Awami League's two successive governments at that point had successfully ensured a dominant position for their student front on campuses throughout the country.
Analysts say it was only a matter of time before BCL eyed the coveted BUET, revered as the most prestigious of all DU departments and institutes, again.
Their demand for resumption of student politics must be seen as actually a demand to let them resume their domination of the campus, since no other student front is in any position to challenge them.
As the AL regime has gone from strength, BCL has grown more and more powerful, even exercising influence over teacher recruitment in some universities around the country, tender selection and awarding of contracts for university infrastructure or services like catering, and of course controlling the distribution of hall seats.
BUET Row: BCL announces counter protest rally at Shahid Minar
Following the ongoing movement of BUET students against student politics in BUET campus, Bangladesh Chhatra League has announced a counter protest rally near BUET campus at central Sahid Minar.
The protest rally will be held at 11 am at the foot of central Sahid Minar, near the gate no. 6 of BUET campus.
Earlier, a group of 5 BUET students, who marked themselves as the ‘people of pro-liberation war’, organize a press conference under the banner of ‘victim students’ in front of BUET Shahid Minar at 3pm where they claimed that they are under pressure and do not feel safe in the campus only because they contain the sprit of liberation war or support the organization that support the liberation war.
They also claimed that communal forces like Hijbut Tahrir and Shibir are actively working in the BUET campus and revealed a list of some ‘Shibir activists.’
“We have not conducted any kind of political activities in the campus and are not affiliated with any political organization, but in terms of ideology, we believe in the spirit of the
liberation war,” they said.
Immediately after the press conference BCL announced a protest rally on their official pad signed by BCL president Saddam Hussain and Sheikh Wali Asif Enan.
In the press release, BCL protested the suspension of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi and marked BUET authority’s decision of banning students’ politics in the campus as ‘Undemocratic and violation of constitutional rights.’
After the declaration of suspension of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, the BCL leaders and activists of Dhaka University were seen very active and aggressive in the social media against BUET authority’s decision
UP member arrested over rape of school girl in Shariatpur
A union parishad (UP) member was arrested over the gang rape of a female school student in Shariatpur’s Naria upazila on Saturday.
Liton Laskar, 50, is a member of Ward 3 of the Kedarpur Union Parishad of the upazila.
Liton and Sanjay Majumder, a part-time teacher of the school, called the victim to the library after the school closed on Sunday (March 24) and raped her, said Shariatpur Additional Superintendent of Police (Naria Circle) Ahsan Habib.
According to the police, Liton, who is the general secretary of the school's managing committee and a member of Kedarpur Union Parishad, had been harassing the girl for a long time.
They threatened to kill the victim if she told anyone.
After going home, the victim did not tell anyone at first, but on Thursday, she informed her mother and aunt. Later, the student was admitted to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.
On Friday afternoon, the victim's mother filed a case at Naria Police Station, accusing Liton and Sanjay. Later, police arrested UP member Liton from the Mulfatganj area.
Shariatpur ASP (Naria Circle) Ahsan Habib said efforts are underway to arrest the other accused, Sanjay.
College girl raped at gunpoint in Dhaka; Tangail AL leader Boro Monir sued
A college girl was allegedly raped by an Awami League leader of Tangail at gunpoint at his residence in Uttara area of the capital on Friday night.
The victim filed a case under Women and Children Repression and Prevention Act against him with Turag police station early Saturday, said the police station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mostafa Anowar.
Accused Golam Kibria alias Boro Monir, vice president of the Tangail city unit AL, took the girl to his flat in Priyanka city residential area (R/A) in Uttara and raped her there, according to the case statement.
Receiving a call from national emergency service 999, police rescued the girl from the flat on Friday night but didn’t find the accused there during the drive, the OC said.
The victim’s mother alleged that a woman was involved in the rape incident.
She also alleged that police were dilly-dallying to take the case from Friday night and they were pressuring them to file a case against unidentified people.
OC Mostafa said legal action in this connection is underway.
Buet students continue protest for day 2 against BCL activities on campus
The students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) continued their demonstration on Saturday against the alleged activities of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on the campus where student politics is prohibited.
They boycotted all sorts of academic activities for the second consecutive day and demanded stricter action against those students who tried to revive student politics on the campus ignoring the ban.
They gathered in front of Dr. M A Rashid administrative building in the the morning chanted slogans against student politics.
On October 11, 2019, Buet authorities banned student politics after Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League (BCL) activists at the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours of October 7.
Amid protests of general students, Buet authorities cancelled the hall allocation of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, a student of 21st batch of Civil Engineering department and also a member of BCL central panel, but no decision was taken about his expulsion as per the demand of the students.
The protesting students gave an ultimatum to the university authorities seeking expulsion of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi within 2 pm today.
They also demanded expulsion of those students whom they identified by analysing CCTV footages. They are ASM Anas Ferdous (ID: 1818004), Mohammad Hasin Arman Nihal (ID:2106101), Aniruddha Majumdar (ID:2106079), Zohirul Islam Emon (ID:2112031) and Sayem Mahmud Sajedin Rifat (ID: 2106126) for violating the rules of the university.
Besides, the students asked the university authorities to clarify its stance regarding the entrance of BCL men in the midnight and use of the seminar room for political purposes as it requires permission from Directorate of Students' Welfare (DSW).
The students also sought resignation of Director of Student Welafare for ‘failing to do his duty and violating the regulation of the university’. They also declared to continue boycott of academic activities till March 31.
The Buet authorities assured the protesting students of forming a probe to investigate the matter on Friday.
In the midnight on March 28, BCL president Saddam Hussain along with other leaders and activists entered Buet campus when Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, an executive member of BCL central panel, was present and allegedly played vital role in the entering of the BCL men.
Besides, some leaders and activists of the newly formed BCL committees gave floral wreaths to the president.
One of the gatemen of Buet seeking anonymity also confirmed the matter of using the auditorium in the midnight of March 28 by BCL leaders.