Harassment allegations at Udayan School in Dhaka, two members of inquiry committee resign
A Class 9 student at Udayan Higher Secondary School, affiliated with the University of Dhaka, has been accused of sexually harassing female classmates, creating obscene photos and videos using artificial intelligence (AI), and making indecent proposals.
The accused student is reported to be the son of Professor Dr Md Mofazzal Hossain, acting dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Dhaka.
The school authorities formed an inquiry committee with two Dhaka University assistant proctors, AKM Nur Alam Siddiqui and Enamul Haque Sajib. After protesting students objected to the committee's role, both assistant proctors resigned from it and two more people from Dhaka University were added in their place. Acting principal Muhammad Arif Rahman gave this information on Wednesday (4 November).
Earlier, students began a protest on Tuesday (3 November) morning. Holding placards with slogans including 'We want safety for girls, we want a harassment-free school', they took position on the school premises. Students said no one from the school authorities was seen there during the protest.
The protesting students allege that, for protesting, the school authorities suspended the classroom attendance of 10 students. They were at first kept out of classes and exams, but after protests by guardians and students they were allowed to sit exams in a separate room, though permission to join the classroom has still not been given.
The students say pressure was put on them by the concerned Dhaka University teacher, the proctor's office and the school authorities. They also speak of threats of transfer certificates if the protest continued, and of being forced to sign a paper containing allegations of abduction and beating of the accused in the name of inquiry. They also allege that members of the accused's family went to one victim's home and intimidated her.
A student who did not wish to be named said they had long been frightened and uncomfortable at the accused's behaviour, that obscene photos and videos made with AI were used to blackmail and harass them, and that they complained to the school but got no justice and instead faced punishment. Another student said they protested to ensure girls' safety and that the accused must be punished without regard to his family identity.
Denying the allegations, Professor Mofazzal Hossain claimed that on 7 October several students took his son out of the school classroom and beat him first on the roof of Palashi Market and then between two buildings in Azimpur. He filed a written complaint with the principal the next day and a general diary (GD) at Shahbagh Police Station last Friday (30 October). He claimed his son was intimidated and money was taken over writing on a fake social media ID, and that the beating and this campaign began after the money stopped.
University of Dhaka Proctor Professor Md Israfil said they are not assigned to this matter and the school authorities will look into such issues. He said proctorial team members were sent that day so that no tense situation arose, and that the situation is now normal.
Acting principal Muhammad Arif Rahman said that if such an incident happened, he as head should have been informed first, but he was not informed of the matter. Asked whether the inquiry is being influenced because the accused is the son of a Dhaka University teacher, he said it was not before and is not now. He also said no one from the school authorities put pressure on committee members, and he assured students that justice would be ensured and no one would be treated unfairly while he is in charge.
