Dhaka University’s Fazlul Haq Muslim hall’s students have announced indefinite closure of the hall office today over a harassment issue by the provost yesterday as they have not still got any decision from the authority.
The students have raised three demands including the disclosure of CCTV footage, expulsion of the provost and involved staff if found guilty. If the footage has been deleted, the allegation will be proven true and then the provost along with the concern must be taken under trial, they said.
Meanwhile, the university administration has formed a five-member investigation committee headed by the proctor Israfil Ratan. The committee has been requested to submit a report soon.
Yesterday, a resident student of FH hall, Md Ibrahim, alleged that the provost of the hall, Dr. Md. Elias Al-Mamun, and five staff had harassed him in the office room closing the doors.
The student alleged that the provost had summoned him to his office over a Facebook post critical of the provost. He further alleged that the provost, along with five other staff members, confined him in the office for about one and a half hours, during which he was subjected to mental harassment, his phone was forcibly checked, and he was intimidated.
According to the allegation, the provost also threatened to file a cybercrime case against him, expel him from the university and revoke his residential seat in the hall. He also allegedly called the student’s mother and asked him not to disclose the incident to anyone.
“The provost has taken a signature from me forcefully on a statement which mentioned that I posted against the provost after being provoked by the hall union’s VP, GS and AGS,” Ibrahim said.
Following the incident, students of the hall, along with DUCSU leaders and leaders and activists of Shibir and Chhatra Shakti, staged a protest at around 9pm yesterday. They confined the provost and demanded his resignation after he refused to show the CCTV footage of the incident.
At one point, the university’s pro-vice-chancellors and proctor went to the hall to bring the situation under control. The protesters also confined them.
At around 3am, a scuffle broke out between Chhatra Dal activists and the protesters after Chhatra Dal activists went to the hall to ‘rescue’ those who had been confined. At least six people were injured in the clash.
Chhatra Dal demand impartial investigation
Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall unit Chhatra Dal has demanded an impartial investigation into allegations of student harassment by the hall provost and the ‘mob’ created on teachers there in the presence of Chhatra Shibir and DUCSU leaders.
In a memorandum submitted to the university proctor at 3pm today, JCD called for a fair investigation and demanded disciplinary and legal action against those found responsible.
Shibir demand permanent removal
At the press conference today held at the Madhur Canteen at 4pm, DU Shibir demanded the permanent removal of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall Provost Dr Md Elias Al-Mamun from all administrative responsibilities and legal action against him over the alleged harassment of the student. It also demanded the dismissal of staff members who were allegedly involved in the incident.
Shibir further demanded the permanent expulsion of Chhatra Dal activists found responsible for attacking students, along with criminal cases against them based on CCTV footage and video evidence. It also called on the university administration to provide a written guarantee that no student organization would be allowed to use force against students or act as an enforcer for the administration on campus.
The organization said students and Shibir would continue their movement until justice was ensured.