Committee formed to investigate sexual harassment allegation against DU teacher Nadir

A committee has been formed to investigate two separate allegations of sexual harassment against Dhaka University (DU) mass communication and journalism department Professor Dr Nadir Junaid.

A three-member fact-finding committee has been formed for a preliminary inquiry into two separate allegations of sexual harassment and submit a report within 14 days.

Besides, another probe committee has been formed to investigate an allegation of academic misconduct against the same professor.

The committees have been formed as per the decision of a syndicate meeting, presided over by DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal and held at Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on the campus on Sunday (March 3).

The committee formed to investigate sexual harassment allegation is headed DU Law Faculty Dean Professor Shima Zaman.

Syndicate member Professor Masudur Rahman and Assistant Proctor Sanchita Guha are other two members of the committee. DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Dr Sitesh Chandra Bachar, syndicate member and journalism department Chairman Dr Abul Mansur Ahmed and DU Controller of Examinations Bahalul Haque Chowdhury are the members of the committee formed to investigate the allegation of academic misconduct.

On February 10, a female journalism department student of DU submitted a written complaint of sexual harassment to Professor Dr Maksudur Rahman.

The next day, another student of the department accused Dr Nadir of covering up the allegations of sexual harassment.

Later, on February 28, a former student accused Nadir Junayed of sexual harassment again.

Earlier, on February 7, the postgraduate students of the journalism department complained that Professor Nadir deliberately gave them abnormally low marks in one of their courses due to personal vendetta.

Soon after the complaint was filed, the students started protesting by boycotting all academic activities demanding suspension and trial of the accused professor.

Later on February 12, the university authorities sent Nadir on compulsory leave amid the agitation.