Students of Jagannath University (JnU) formed a human chain on Monday protesting the university’s decision to let off Md Abdul Halim Pramanik with lenient punitive measures for the eight-year delay in promotion after two female students had complained of being sexually harassed by accused Pramanik, the then head of Theatre Department of the university.
Under the banner of “General Students of Jagannath University”, the agitating students demanded unconditional permanent suspension of accused teacher chanting and writing different slogans in favor of their demands in front of main entrance of the university.
Earlier on 7 September, the university authorities at its 82nd syndicate meeting headed by JnU vice-Chancellor Mizanur Rahman took a decision to penalize the teacher for harassing two female students. According to the decision, the accused teacher would neither be given promotion for the next eight years nor be allowed to discharge any administrative activities of the university for the next ten years. However, he wouldn’t be allowed to work in any activities relating to the examination also, except his course.
The agitating students think this is a move to protect a harasser from just punishment he deserves. Besides, earlier the victims also expressed their dissatisfactions over the mild-punishment and called for the intervention of the Prime Minister in resolving the issue.
In February 2017, a female student of theatre department lodged a written complaint to the vice-Chancellor that Pramanik had harassed her sexually in the department on February 15. In April 2018, probing the issue twice, the university syndicate in its 77th meeting rebuked the teacher and inflicted a two-year delay in his promotion.
But the victim expressed her dissatisfaction over the mild-punishment and called for a re-investigation. Later another female student lodged another complaint about sexual harassment against the teacher. Following the allegations the university again formed an investigation committee for the third time led by Professor Shawkat Jahangir.
Tousib Mahmud Sohan, one of the protesters said this kind of so called mild punishment for sexual harassment by a university teacher would inspire others to involve in such heinous activities. He demanded exemplary punishment by removing the teacher from the university.
