Udayan students protest over ‘sexual harassment’, question probe impartiality

Students of Udayan Higher Secondary School in Dhaka University staged a protest yesterday (3 November), demanding action over allegations of sexual harassment and obscene images involving a ninth-grader, and questioning the neutrality of an investigation committee formed by the school.

The protesters alleged that the school administration had acted in favour of the accused student, Tahmid Munim Hossain, because his father, Professor Mofazzal Hossain, is the acting dean of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Science.

Their five-point demands include ensuring girls’ safety on campus, taking strict action against the accused student, ending harassment and threats against victims and protesting students, reinstating students barred from regular classes, and forming an independent investigation committee free from the dean’s influence.

The dispute followed a complaint filed by Professor Mofazzal with the school principal on 7 October, alleging that his son had been taken outside the school after classes and beaten by several classmates.

According to the complaint, Tahmid was first taken to the roof of Palashi Market and later to an area between two buildings in Azimpur Colony. He sustained injuries, including a split lip, and was forced to remove his shirt while a video was recorded.

A classmate named Rafsan had been blackmailing Tahmid over conversations from a fake Instagram account and had taken more than Tk3,000 from him.

After reviewing CCTV footage, the school identified 10 students involved in taking Tahmid away. Those students, however, accused Tahmid of creating obscene images of female classmates and sending them to girls, as well as engaging in inappropriate conversations.

One protesting student, Rahaat, told The Business Standard that Tahmid had also allegedly touched female classmates inappropriately. He said some students had slapped Tahmid but denied that the incident involved the serious beating described by the investigation committee.

On 8 October, school principal Mohammad Arifur Rahman formed a five-member investigation committee comprising three teachers and two Dhaka University assistant proctors, AKM Nur Alam Siddiqui and Enamul Haque Sajib.

The school also barred Tahmid and the 10 other students from regular classes pending the investigation.

Professor Mofazzal told TBS that he had sought justice from the school principal and sent a copy of his complaint to the university vice-chancellor, who heads the school’s governing body.

He alleged that the accusations involving female classmates were being raised to divert attention from the assault on his son.

Principal Arifur told TBS that the students had been kept out of classrooms to facilitate the investigation and that any learning gaps would be addressed.

He said he was aware of the students’ objections to the committee and had discussed the matter with the vice-chancellor.

“The students can raise any objections after the investigation report is submitted. I will not allow any injustice. There is no scope for anyone to interfere,” he added.