Rajshahi University Mahila Parishad, Rajshahi District Branch, Women and Welfare and Social Injustice Prevention Committee organized a discussion meeting on ‘Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Harassment in Educational Institutions: Prevention and Remedies’.
The meeting was held on Sunday (October 2) at 3:30 pm in the engineering gallery of MA Wazed Mia Academic Building of the university.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sultan Ul Islam and Public Relations Department Administrator Professor Pradeep Kumar Pandey were present as chief guests in the meeting.
Mahila Parishad Rajshahi District General Secretary Anjana Sarkar said in her written statement that violence against women has various forms and has multidimensional effects. It is not bound by the boundaries of country-time, caste, religion caste. Violence against women is a global issue. A form of violence against women or violence against women is sexual harassment, sexual assault or harassment. Unbridled incidents of extreme unethical behavior occur even in the country’s highest university.
He commented that it is very important to ensure the initiative of sexual harassment prevention committee formed in the light of the directives of the High Court department for every educational institution including universities and to monitor the activities of this committee.
At the time, he mentioned nine other recommendations, including ensuring the responsibility and accountability of the university authorities in ensuring quick investigation and remediation of incidents of harassment, sexual harassment in the university, reinstatement of the repealed Section 10(2) of the Prevention of Women and Child Abuse Act 2000.
Rajshahi Court Public Advocate and Rajshahi District Women’s Jubo League President Ismat Ara said, if the teacher is the victim of sexual harassment, what else will they do for the students! He should be brought to justice as soon as possible and punished. Be it teachers, staff or students. Not only should syndicate meetings be held, but complaints should be investigated and exemplary punishment should be provided.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar said that these incidents of harassment are happening constantly. We need awareness about this. In fact, many of us do not know what constitutes sexual harassment. Two incidents came to my attention after I took over. These are very unfortunate events. There is still no law to prevent sexual harassment in universities. A policy was made in 2009. We want justice for any injustice. We want to see people as people. All of the recommendations here are fostered by our Sexual Harassment Cell.
The meeting was presided over by Rasheda Khalek, President of the University Women’s Council and Cultural Secretary Dr. Sumaiya Khanam. Around hundred teachers-students of various departments along with the leaders of various branches of Mahila Parishad were present in the exchange meeting.
