Students tell about years of torment

Kazi Farzana Meem’s time studying at Jagannath University (JnU) became an eight-year ordeal after she faced sexual harassment by a lecturer.

In her sophomore year, she rejected his inappropriate proposal. After being rejected, he failed her in his subject and used other intimidation tactics.

Lacking institutional support, Mim experienced constant anxiety, which significantly affected her mental health and academic success.

In 2021, when she sought help from the university’s registrar, he turned her down and told her that “those who complain often see their academic lives ruined,” then offered her a meal instead.

Disappointed, she left without filing a complaint.

However, after being encouraged by a guardian, she eventually filed a formal complaint.

“After I staged a public protest with a placard outside our Shahid Minar campus, the university finally formed a committee to investigate,” she said.

“Despite the fact that the inquiry report was due after 90 days, the committee contacted me eight months later just to recount my experience. This should have been resolved a long time ago. Political power has become an obstacle.”

Meem shared her ordeal during a panel titled ‘Testimonies of abused female students and the responsibility to create a discrimination-free educational environment’ organized by the Education Rights Council at RC Majumdar Arts Auditorium, Dhaka University yesterday.

The event was moderated by Md Shahnewaz Khan Chandan, Member-Secretary Council and Associate Professor, JnU Institute of Education and Research.

Among those who shared similar stories were Hadizatul Kubra from JnU, Joyma Munmun from Eden College and Cynthia Mehreen Sakal from DU.

Phulpori Khatun, a student of the Islamic University, joined the event virtually and spoke about the torture she had to undergo by some Chhatra League activists in 2023, which almost forced her to drop out.

“As a first-year student, I witnessed a culture of bullying and rip-offs. New students were forced to greet others (activists) with the word “salam” at each step of the stairs. Those who didn’t have dire consequences.”

She recalled how she was detained and tortured by BCL activists for four and a half hours, during which they forced her to write a suicide note saying that if she died, no one would be held accountable.

“If university management is not held hostage by political parties, we will be able to create a safe campus for all students.”

Hadizatul Kubra has opened up about her harrowing experience of spending a year in jail under the oppressive Digital Security Act despite having committed no crime.

Even as she battled a kidney ailment, she faced relentless setbacks as the Dhaka court repeatedly denied her bail.

“After such an injustice, I was deeply disappointed that no one from my faculty supported me. The behavior of some teachers caused me the most pain. The harassment I faced during the viva board was incredibly painful for me.”

Cynthia Mehreen Sokal, a member of the quota reform movement at DU, said, “On July 15, Chhatra League activists chased me in the campus and hit me on the head with a stick. I heard a loud blow in my ear, and then I fell. … I thought I was dying.

“The people of Bangladesh are freed from the dictatorship, but my suffering continues. I am still in pain every day. I can no longer be myself; even conversation requires pauses. But I’m alive and that’s enough. “

Joyma Moonmun shared how the Chhatra League dominated university halls for 15 years, coercing students into political activity and subjecting those who resisted to psychological and physical abuse.

The event was chaired by Professor M. Niaz Asadullah, head of the Council for the Rights to Education and a researcher at North South University.

In his speech, he said: “The education system may be faltering, but the youth remain resilient. It gives us hope. Today we are focusing on one aspect of our 14-point program. Moving forward, we will focus on other reforms, ensuring that inclusiveness and youth participation are at the heart of all education efforts.”

Professor Hosne Ara Begum, former director of DU’s Institute of Education and Research, said, “There should be no political influence in faculty-student relations.”

Professor Dr Chowdhury Saima Ferdows of DU’s Department of International Business said, “I feel ashamed as a teacher after hearing the struggle of the girls at this event. Although we knew about the ill-treatment in the hostels, we did not know the details.”

Dr Moninur Rashid of DU’s Institute of Education and Research said, “To create a non-discriminatory educational environment, we need to ensure good governance. Teachers must fulfill their roles as educators, and we need to destroy the culture of student politics that fosters addiction. .”