#MeToo: protest by HSTU teachers, students against sexual harassment

Hajee Mohammed Danesh Science and Technology University’s (HSTU) Dinajpur Progressive Teachers Forum, Chhatra League unit and student-body, with a 12-point demand, insisting exemplary punishment and dismissal of two teachers involved in sexual harassment.

On Monday, they organized a sit-in protest in front of the HSTU Vice-Chancellor Dr M Abul Kashem’s residence and shouted slogans.

After an hour-long program, they submitted a memorandum to implement their 12-point demand.

Progressive Teachers Forum leaders said recently that a number of female students were sexually harassed by two teachers, namely, Dr Ramzan Ali and Deepak Kumar over a period of time.

Some female students got together and complained to the VC saying that they were sexually harassed by Ramzan and Deepak on several occasions, but received no response.

Later, the students took the matter to some teachers who did the same and yet received no assurance from the vice-chancellor regarding their dismissal or punishment.

They said the students and teachers have been ignored by the university.

“The university authorities are condoning sexual harassment by the teachers by remaining silent, which in turn is causing distress to us.”

The demands include: 

• Permanent removal of Dr Ramzan Ali and punishment for teacher Deepak Kumar
• To take disciplinary action against the registrar for protecting the respective teachers
• Timely promotion of teachers
• Construction of a new girls’ hall for the safety of female students and to solve the housing crisis
• Halve the course fee and publish examination results on time
• Appointment of teachers, officers, and employees to monitor examinations, and several others

On the other hand, speaking to journalists, HSTU VC Abul Kashem said: “Implementation of their demands is in progress. Action has been taken against the accused teachers. The situation is normal in the university.”