Jagannath University (JnU) students are highlighting various irregularities including sexual harassment, against the teachers of the university, after the suicide of Fairuz Sadaf Abantika.
Kazi Farzana Mim, a student of the Film and Television department of the university, spoke up in front of the media about her tragic experience.
The tragic incidents that happened to her two years ago includes allegations of sexual harassment, threats and deliberately failing her in exams.
Mim came to the DB office and alleged about her gruesome experience on Monday. The DB office took her allegations and assured her of inquiring in detail.
After filing allegations, Mim spoke to journalists at the DB office at Minto Road. She said that the teacher sexually harassed her in 2021 and in return when she complained about this to the university authorities, various tortures were imposed on her.
“The teacher of my department, Abu Saheed Emon, sexually harassed me. The teacher used to keep pressuring me in various ways to withdraw allegations against him. As I did not agree to this, they (the department) threatened to expel me from the university along with cutting off my hands and feet. They made me fail various exams with zero marks.”
She expressed frustration saying that the teacher is still in his position like before and continuously bullying her by calling her an autistic.
“I suffer from insecurity all the time. When a female student complains about sexual harassment, what is said about her character cannot be described in words. Whenever someone talks to the teachers of my department, they talk about my character.”
The Vice Chancellor of the University Dr. Sadeka Halim said, "We filed a complaint against Mim's complaint, but later it did not proceed. The Supreme Court dismissed the writ of the accused teacher. He also traveled abroad without taking leave. Two investigation committees are currently investigating him. On my instructions, the university treasurer and all the deans had a meeting with the chairman of that department.”
The VC assured that they will look into this issue in detail and take steps following that. Measures will be taken so that she can attend the exam.
However, Farzana Mim shared that she is under threat after the publication of the news.
She said “The chairman of my department contacted me after the publication of the news. He said that he wanted to meet me, and to have an iftar together. It scares me. Because they pressured me in the past too. I was once detained in the office of our department.”
DMP Additional Commissioner of Police (DB) Harun Or Rashid told the media about the complaint, "We have received the complaint of Mim. We will try to ensure her safety. Our cyber team will look into the threat.
Regarding the allegations, the Chairman of Film and Television Department Professor Junayed Ahmed Halim said, “There is no time to talk about the allegations, and she is saying these according to her own thoughts. The allegations are not actually real. The tests were taken and the results were given according to the rules.”
Attempts were made to contact Abu Shahed Emon, the accused teacher of the Film and Television Department, but he did not respond.
Ever since Abantika's death last Friday night, students of various universities have been protesting over the issue and demanding fair trial of the culprits, and have also started speaking up against oppressions.