Another RU teacher accused of sexual abuse

The sociology student (her name not mentioned) in a written complaint to department chairman Prof Faizer Rahman on Sunday alleged that she was sexually abused by Assistant Professor Sabyasachi Shah at his office room.

Following her complaint, the academic committee of sociology department at an emergency meeting yesterday formed a committee comprising three female teachers to probe the allegation and submit a report within 24 hours (Tuesday noon).

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The committee members are Prof Sultana Mostafa Khanam, Prof Wardatul Akhman and Prof Mahbuba Sarker.

The committee also handed over a copy of the complaint to the accused teacher, asking him to reply to the allegation.

Talking to newsmen later at his office, sociology department chairman Prof Faizer Rahman said the meeting also decided to send a copy of the probe report, when available, to the university registrar as per law.

As news about the complaint came to light, students of sociology department staged a demonstration and demanded punishment to the accused teacher.

Some leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Rajshahi University also met with Prof Faizer Rahman and demanded punishment to the teacher and threatened of tougher agitation for non-compliance.

When approached at the department, the accused teacher first tried to avoid newsmen. Pressed for comment, he said, "I did not do anything offending to the girl student".

Rajshahi University Vice-chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain told newsmen at his office that he was yet to receive any complaint against the sociology teacher.

"If the allegation is proved, he will be punished", the VC said.

Meanwhile agitating students of botany department under the banner of General Students Council held a rally, paraded the campus streets and staged a three-hour sit-in at the gate of the administrative building demanding removal of the teacher accused of sexually abusing a student.

Speakers at the rally threatened of an indefinite strike at the university if the probe report is not made public within 24 hours and the accused teacher--Prof Nurul Amin-- is not removed.

On April 7, a fourth year female student of botany lodged a written complaint to department chairman Prof Shah Alam that she was sexually abused by Prof Nurul Amin in the laboratory.

On Saturday, botany students confined the VC at his office for six hours to press the demand.

The botany students, joined by others, on Sunday enforced a strike at the university. Earlier, they boycotted classes and staged demonstrations and paraded the campus streets on several occasions.