Protest against a mass communication and journalism department professor of Dhaka University for allegedly sexually harassing a female student continued on Sunday demanding his suspension.
A section of current students of the department issued an ultimatum of 24 hours to launch a boycott of classes and examinations unless the outcome of the investigation into accusations against him was clear.
Earlier, the students lodged a formal complaint with the DU proctor office, against professor Naadir Junaid, accusing him of sexual harassment, mental torture and academic misconduct since 2022.
The complaint was transferred to the office of the vice-chancellor professor ASM Maksud Kamal on Sunday.
In the morning, a section of DU students from all current batches of the mass communication and journalism department staged a protest, marching through the campus and demanding justice.
They made their demands through the protest held in the department.
The agitating students chanted slogans calling for justice for the victim student.
Tanzim Samdani Prottoy, a student of 14th batch, said, ‘Fear prevented us from speaking out. Now, following the complaint, we have an ethical responsibility to support her and demand justice.’
He said that they demanded swift and appropriate disciplinary action against the accused teacher.
‘We demand the immediate suspension of his academic duties in the department within 24 hours.’
Fellow student Adnan Rahmatullah Turjo said that many couldn’t speak before, but their fear ends with them now.
Earlier on Saturday evening, a faction of the DU Chhatra Union organised a human chain in the Teacher-Student Centre area of the campus, demanding a prompt trial of a sexual harassment complaint against Naadir Junaid.
Meghmallar Basu, the faction president, said that the allegation was not an isolated incident.
The Saturday complaint read that Naadir made inappropriate comments about her appearance, expressed unwanted sexual interest, made threats when she rebuffed his advances, monitored her movements through CCTV and subjected her to emotional abuse.
The student demanded exemplary punishment for the teacher.
Earlier, a group of students of the same department on February 8 submitted a complaint to the VC accusing professor Naadir Junaid of academic irregularities.
The office of the VC confirmed that the complaint had been placed at the VC office on Sunday.
Professor Abul Mansur Ahmad, Chairperson of DU mass communication and journalism department, said that he met the VC at his office on Sunday while representatives of the protesting students were also present.
The VC assured that a prompt decision would be made on this matter, he added.
Professor Naadir Junaid said on Saturday night that he was a victim of conspiracy.
‘From different sources I came to know that some people were forcing others to lodge complaint against me and for that reason I filed a general diary with Shahbagh police station on Friday night in this regard,’ he added.
