As a punishment for forcibly cutting the hair of students, Rabindra University authorities have suspended Associate Professor Farhana Yeasmin Baten for three academic years.
The official order was posted on the university’s notice board on Sunday, according to media reports.
Students have been demanding the removal or resignation of Farhana and have continued protests.
It said that Farhana has been told to refrain from all academic activities, including taking classes teaching and giving tests, until the end of all academic activities for students from the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 sessions of the Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department.
On September 26, Farhana allegedly cut the hair of 16 students. She was seen standing with a pair of scissors in front of an exam hall where first-year students sat for their final test. She then stopped students whose hair exceeded a certain length.
One of the victims tried to commit suicide by taking sleeping pills a day after the incident because of the humiliation. He was admitted to a hospital.
Following this, the students went on a hunger strike demanding the removal of Farhana, when CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media.
Farhana also held two other positions — an assistant proctor and a member of the university board. She stepped down from all positions.
On September 30, Farhana was suspended following a syndicate meeting, barring her indefinitely from academic and administrative activities until further notice.
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