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A female student at Dhaka University's Department of Mass Communication and Journalism has accused a professor of her department of sexually and mentally harassing her amid allegations that the teacher wilfully lowered the grade points of an entire batch.
The student lodged a written complaint with Proctor Prof Maksudur Rahman and submitted audio recordings and screenshots of messages on Saturday, reports bdnews24.com.
The proctor said the complaint will be forwarded to Vice-Chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal on Sunday.
VC Maksud said he will take steps after formally receiving the complaint of sexual harassment.
He said a pro-VC was looking into the other allegation of willfully giving lower marks in a recent exam.
The complaint of sexual harassment details alleged instances of inappropriate behaviour, including suggestive comments, marriage proposals, and uncomfortable encounters.
However, the accused professor said he was yet to be formally informed about the allegation of sexual harassment and mental torture.
He also sees conspiracy in the entire episode, questioning the timing of the complaint.
“Why now, when there have been writings against me? The complaint [of sexual harassment] could have been filed much earlier.”
About the complaint of biases in marking, he said three other teachers were involved in the viva voce while another teacher also examined the answer sheets of written tests. “How could I alone lower the marks?”
He said he had given marks to other batches in the same way, but the complaint was filed at a time when he is set to become the chairman of the department in June.
Meanwhile, a female doctor at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University has brought charges of sexual harassment and fraud against a professor of the same institution in Dhaka, reports bdnews24.com.
The doctor started a case against the professor under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act on Thursday night, Shahbagh Police Station chief Mostajirur Rahman said on Saturday.
Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, an additional deputy commissioner at Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they were investigating the charges “with importance”.
“The professor will be arrested if we find the allegations to be true and if there is any chance of him fleeing.”
The female doctor, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the lone medical university of Bangladesh, said she became acquainted with the professor since they work in the same hospital.
The professor then offered her to become a partner in a private hospital project and took Tk 2 million from her.
When she met the professor in his room one day, the professor hugged him and took pictures, the female doctor said in the case.
The professor allegedly blackmailed her by threatening to send the photos to her family and publicise those on social media.
He hit her when she barred him from touching her in a room of the hospital on Jan 25, according to the charges.
The female doctor said she remained silent out of fear of losing her job and facing social ignominy.
The professor was not available for comments on the issue.