Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad have expressed interest in working together to prevent sexual harassment and violence against women in higher educational institutions.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Dr. Fauzia Moslem along with a seven-member team held a meeting with UGC Chairman (Additional Charge) Professor Muhammed Alamgir at UGC on Monday (June 24).
In the meeting, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad president Dr. Fauzia Moslem said that incidents of sexual harassment and oppression are happening in universities. The human rights of the victims of these incidents are being violated and the normal environment of education is being severely disrupted. This is hampering the empowerment of women.
"Although there is a complaint committee in the university to prevent and remedy these incidents, it is not performing its duties properly," said Dr. Fauzia Moslem.
She said that the crime of sexual harassment and violence against women should be made public first. She requested for the speedy completion of the investigation report on cases of sexual harassment in various higher education institutions including Jagannath University.
Besides, she requested the UGC to organize a workshop with vice-chancellors of public universities to raise awareness about sexual harassment.
Professor Alamgir said that UGC has adopted zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment in universities. He also said that the UGC has directed the university authorities to take immediate action whenever such incidents take place.
"The victims conceal the matter of sexual harassment against university teachers for fear of harming the student's academic life. Many times the university authorities avoid the issue fearing image damage," said professor Alamgir.
He urged the university authorities to build a safe and women student-friendly campus.
He suggested forming complaint committees including women members, setting up transparent complaint boxes, making student-teacher relationship cordial, protecting mental health and increasing awareness in all universities to redress sexual harassment.
UGC Member Professor Hasina Khan said, the issue has been included in the newly established public university law to prevent sexual harassment, harassment and bullying in the university. Besides, it is planned to include the subject of sexual harassment in the performance appraisal of the university under the annual performance agreement of the UGC.
