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Sexual harassment has always been abhorred in a civilised society. When it happens within the hallowed halls of learning where one would expect maturity and impeccable behaviour to shine from future leaders, it is even more abhorrent and unacceptable. Just in the last four months alone, there have been an appalling 37 reported incidents of sexual harassment, involving both teachers and students in the country's public and private universities. The latest ugly incident came to light last Friday when Fairuz Abantika, a Jagannath University (JnU) student, committed suicide in a bid to end her torment and despair.
Just before ending her life, she posted a suicide note on Facebook to say she could no longer endure the mental stress and suffering the harassment had caused. She wrote one of her classmates repeatedly harassed, threatened her, and made her life hell. Suicide is the loudest cry for help a person makes when they feel alone, desperate, helpless, and see no alternative solution. Unable to see an escape route or help nearby, Abantika decided to take the suicide route.
In her Facebook post, Abantika wrote, "If I ever die by suicide, my classmate Amman Siddiqui and assistant proctor Deen Islam, who supported him, will be solely responsible for my death. I complained to the Proctor's office that Amman was threatening me offline and online, but I did not receive any help. Deen Islam intimidates me in numerous ways on behalf of Amman, saying he could expel me from the university at any moment. I understand that I won't find any justice here."
Abantika's suicide highlights the plight of many Bangladeshi girls. Young girls in village areas are being teased on their way to and from school. Some are even kidnapped, raped, and murdered. Among the urban educated class, the harassment takes place more subtly by alluring women with false promises. Of late, a significant number of teachers were accused of sexually harassing their students by promising them higher marks in return for sexual favours or threatening to fail them if they do not submit to them. Similar patterns are seen in business offices, where women are prey to their bosses' lustful demands. Most of the cases go unreported because of social taboos and victim blaming.
Abantika's suicide lays bare the anarchic situation that spells havoc for so many girls in educational institutions in particular, and in other places across the country, in general. It also exposes the indifference of the male-dominated social and administrative authorities towards protecting girls from sexual predators. Here it is worthwhile to mention the findings of a study last year conducted by Professor Abdul Alim of Rajshahi University. According to his survey report, 90 per cent of students who face various types of harassment on campus keep quiet and refrain from lodging complaints because they fear repercussions and not receiving justice.
In 2009, the High Court ordered every educational institution to establish anti-sexual harassment cell to safeguard female students. However, more than a decade and a half later, while many higher education institutions have established anti-sexual harassment cells, the cells have not succeeded in making their presence felt. For example, a recent Financial Express report uncovered that Dhaka University's anti-sexual harassment cell exists only on paper. It has no office, no Hot Line, and no publicly visible email or contact number. Its existence is in theory only. The reporter Tahmid Shakib, who filed the report, said he talked to about a hundred students of the university, but not one had the faintest idea of what the anti-sexual harassment cell is about! It is disgraceful, and it shows the authorities have little or no concern for the wellbeing of its female students.
There are many poignant questions the authorities cannot evade. Why, for example, are universities not taking necessary precaution to make their institutions harassment-proof? Why do university administrations often take the side of the bullies instead of standing by the victims? Why is there no Code of Conduct that all students must sign upon admission and adhere to? And in view of Fairuz Abantika's suicide, what measures the authorities have taken to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future?
The university authorities are believed to be influenced - or controlled - by political quarters. If a stalker belongs to the party in power, no action is taken. Not only do they avoid administrative action but also do little or nothing to prevent them from doing it again. The law, unfortunately, is silent when it comes to dealing with influential quarters.
As in Abantika's case, the university authorities were disgracefully unconcerned about her ordeal until her suicide. However, immediately after her death, they sprang into action because the incident triggered a widespread outcry and outbursts of protest on several university campuses. The university administration temporarily rebuked the studentship of Amman and terminated assistant proctor Deen Islam from his job. The following day, the police arrested both the accused in the case. Sadly, however, the damage had been done, Abantika was no more.
To combat this growing menace, the problem must first be understood from the point of view of a female and then addressed with concern and sincerity for the well-being of female students. The law must be strictly enforced and ensure stalkers and killers do not go unpunished for their crimes. There has to be a deterrent. Secondly, the anti-sexual harassment cell must be made effective. Its existence and operating procedures should be widely disseminated in the form of a booklet and also made available on social media to ensure every student is aware of it. Additionally, both students and faculty members should be sensitised to the university's code of conduct, where it should be clearly stated that harassment, bullying, ragging and other criminal activities are unacceptable and will be shown zero tolerance. Thirdly, the university administration and police must ensure the security of complainants and provide them with emotional support. Measures should be taken to ensure the complainants can continue their education without facing further harassment.
Finally, the political leadership of the country must accept responsibility in part for the current disgraceful behaviour of harassment and bullying common to public university campuses. The task of the university authorities has been made more difficult by the fact that subsequent governments have permitted the bullies of their student wings to misbehave and placed them above the law.
While Fairuz Abantika will never walk again on the JnU campus, it will come as some consolation to her grieving family and friends if her death brings about changes that will benefit future generations of students. May Almighty Allah have mercy on her soul and grant her eternal peace.