A student of Dhaka University, who alleged that he was subjected to intimidation and harassment by the provost of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, has been staging a sit-in for the past three days in front of the vice-chancellor’s office, demanding the provost’s resignation and immediate disclosure of an investigation report into the incident.

The victim, Md Ibrahim, a student of the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering from the 2020-21 academic session, had made a Facebook post criticizing Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall Provost and Professor of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology Dr Md Elias Al-Mamun, highlighting various problems at the hall.

According to Ibrahim, the provost summoned him to his office on August 16 over the post, where he was allegedly subjected to mental harassment, intimidation and threats of being sued under a cybercrime case for around one and a half hours in a closed room.

Ibrahim also alleged that the provost and hall staff forcibly checked his mobile phone and made him sign a document against his will.

Following the incident, students of the hall launched protests demanding the provost’s resignation and locked the hall office indefinitely.

The university authorities subsequently formed an investigation committee, headed by University Proctor Md Israfil PK (Israfil Ratan), to look into the allegations.

“I have been staging a sit-in for the last three days, but no responsible official has come here yet. The university administration is sheltering the provost,” Ibrahim said.

“Although an investigation committee has been formed, they are trying to divert the issue by delaying the investigation. They were supposed to submit the report much earlier, but they have repeatedly delayed it, pushing the deadline from one day to the next,” he added.

Ibrahim said he would continue the sit-in until justice was served.

Asked about the investigation report, committee convener Israfil Ratan gave a noncommittal response, saying, “It could be released at any time. It could be disclosed today. It could be disclosed tomorrow.”