Authorities to decide further action after receiving probe report Sunday
The agitating students of different departments of Rabindra University on Friday vowed to continue their protest until the expulsion of the teacher accused of cutting the hair of 14 students during an examination.
After the suspension order came on Thursday night, some students ended the hunger strike while others continued demanding expulsion of Farhana Yeasmin Baten, an assistant proctor and head of the Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Nazmul Hasan Papon said: "We have broken our fast following the announcement of the suspension. But we will continue our protest.”
Farhana Yasmin was suspended by the Syndicate following a preliminary investigation. The university authorities also withheld all ongoing examinations until further notice during the 16th special Syndicate meeting, chaired by acting vice chancellor Abdul Latif.
Farhana Yasmin Baten, the teacher accused of cutting the hair of 14 students at Rabindra University in Sirajganj | Collected
Dhaka University Arts Faculty Dean Prof Abu Md Delwar Hossain, Joint Secretary of the Education Ministry Syeda Nowara Jahan and Registrar of the university Md Sohrab Ali were present at the meeting among others.
Further actions will be taken after the probe body submits its report on Sunday, according to a press release sent by the university authorities.
Meanwhile, senior officials, including the VC, were locked inside the administrative building on Friday morning by the protesters.
“We provided food for the teachers. We will continue our demonstrations until the investigation ends. If justice is not served, we will resume our hunger strike,” said Shamim Hossain, Fahana Yasmin's former student.
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He said: "We have seen her real face, and we have endured a lot of torture from her. We no longer want to see her on the campus.”
Acting VC Abdul Latif said: “The students have locked us inside, but they open the gates if we need to go out for any work.”
Raushan Alam, the university proctor, said that the students were continuing the protest without understanding the reality.
“There are certain rules to expel someone. Appropriate legal action will be taken after receiving the investigation report,” he added.
Laila Ferdous, head of the probe committee and chairman of the Rabindra Studies Department, told Dhaka Tribune that they were also investigating the other allegations raised against Farhana Yasmin.
The committee members took accounts of various persons of the university and also analyzed CCTV footage.
On Thursday, the High Court asked the probe committee to submit its findings to the court within a month.
The order came in response to a petition filed by Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab seeking court directives on the issue. The High Court also issued a rule asking why the act of forcing haircuts on students should not be declared illegal.
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