Protesting students of Rabindra University Bangladesh went into an indefinite hunger strike from Friday night as the syndicate committee didn’t permanently suspend the teacher who forcefully cut the hair of 14 students. Nazmul Hasan Papon, spokesperson for the students told journalists on Saturday that the probe committee had submitted the report to Registrar Sohrab Ali on Thursday evening without the disposition of accused teacher of the Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department, Farhana Yasmin Baten. Followed by this, the syndicate committee held a meeting at the residence building office of the university on Friday afternoon, he said. However it was adjourned without any decision on the incident, he said. “When we contacted the treasurer and incumbent VC Abdul Latif, he said a decision will be taken in this regard at the next syndicate meeting. But he couldn’t give an exact date for the meeting,” said Najmul Hossain. This has forced the students to take position for an indefinite hunger strike at the RUB campus on Friday night and they decided to continue the protest until Professor Baten got terminated, he said. Read: RUB haircuts probe: Farhana gets till Oct 21 to give her side Meanwhile, Treasurer Abdul Latif said the meeting was adjourned without a decision as the committee didn’t receive all the information. “A decision will be made following the legal procedures in the next syndicate meeting,” he said. On September 26, Farhana instructed an office assistant to trim the hair of 14 first-year students as they were entering examination halls, apparently for ignoring her previous instructions to get haircuts. Unable to bear the humiliation, Nazmul Hasan Tuhin, 25, a student of the department, consumed sleeping pills the following day in an attempt to take his own life. Although she submitted her resignation as department chair, assistant proctor, and member of the proctorial board, Farhana has continued to deny the allegations and claimed the charges against her were all fabricated, as she rejected the request of a few students to defer the exam. On September 30, the RUB students staged protests demanding the termination of the teacher. Read: Haircut humiliation: Rabindra University suspends teacher Farhana The following day, the High Court asked the RUB VC and registrar to take steps against those involved in the incident and to file a report within a month. Later in the day, the RUB authorities suspended Farhana from her teaching position as well. On October 2, following assurance by Education Minister Dipu Moni of launching a probe into the incident, students eased their protest and unlocked the administrative building of the university. RUB authorities formed a five-member committee led by Professor Layla Ferdous Himel to probe the incident.

The probe committee for the alleged incident of a teacher giving forced haircuts to 14 students at Rabindra University Bangladesh (RUB), has given the accused teacher more time to submit her deposition before it. Farhana Yasmin Baten, a teacher of the Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department of the university, has now been asked to appear before the probe committee on October 21. Laila Ferdous Himel, chairperson of RUB's study department and head of the probe committee, confirmed the development. She said Farhana has been given the extension after a meeting of the probe committee on Tuesday afternoon. Read: Haircut humiliation: Rabindra University suspends teacher Farhana “Earlier, the time was extended twice but she didn’t appear before the committee on October 5 due to her illness. She mailed that she needed two weeks more and the committee in response to her request extended the time for her.” She will now appear before the probe committee on October 21 at noon and present her statement. The investigation report will be submitted after receiving her statement. However, if she does not appear before the committee, the next decision will be taken, Laila Ferdous said. Meanwhile, the probe committee in this regard has taken the testimony of 14 victim students, half a hundred students, teachers and employees on October 5. On September 26, Farhana instructed an office assistant to trim the hair of 14 first-year students as they were entering examination halls, apparently for ignoring her previous instructions to get haircuts. READ: HC wants to know of steps against teachers in Rabindra University incident Unable to bear the humiliation, Nazmul Hasan Tuhin, 25, a student of the department, consumed sleeping pills the following day in an attempt to take his own life.Although she submitted her resignation as department chair, assistant proctor, and member of the proctorial board, Farhana has continued to deny the allegations and claimed the charges against her were all fabricated, as she rejected the request of a few students to defer the exam. Students are demanding her termination as a teacher as well.