Farhana Yeasmin, a teacher accused of cutting the hair of 14 students during an examination at Rabindra University in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, has been suspended.
Besides, the administration has declared the university closed indefinitely in the face of student movement.
These decisions were taken at the 16th special meeting of the university syndicate on Thursday night, Laila Ferdous Himel, chairperson of the university’s Rabindra Studies Department, told.
Apart from cutting the hair, multiple allegations were made from different departments against Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department Chairperson Farhana Yeasmin. Those allegations are being investigated as well.
Earlier on the day, High Court asked the probe committee formed to investigate the alleged forced haircuts at Rabindra University to submit its findings to the court within a month.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order on Thursday after holding a hearing on a writ 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.
Reports of the forced haircuts on 14 students on Sunday by Farhana Yeasmin has caused quite a stir on social media.
Probe panel finds evidence
The university probe committee tasked with investigating the incident claims to have obtained video footage from a CCTV camera that proves that Farhana Yeasmin did actually cut the hair of several students with scissors, according to media reports.
The committee would share the footage with the media in the interest of transparency, said Himel, who heads the probe body.
Students continue hunger strike
A group of students continued their hunger strike for the second day on Thursday, demanding the permanent removal of Farhana Yeasmin.
Though Farhana Yeasmin has already stepped down from three administrative positions at the university, the demonstrators told the media that they would keep protesting until her resignation.
The protesters also locked several buildings of the university, including the administrative building, resulting in exams being postponed.
Habibur Rahman and Majedul Islam, two students participating in the hunger strike, fell ill at one point, but continued their strike after receiving medical care.
