Ahsanullah University suspends teacher over sexual abuse allegations

A private university in Dhaka has suspended a teacher following demonstrations by students who want him punished.

Mahfuzur Rashid Ferdous, who taught at the Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), was also serving as the assistant proctor there.

The university authorities suspended Ferdous on Saturday, Vice Chancellor AMM Shafikullah told bdnews24.com.

Students have been demonstrating in front of the campus at Dhaka’s Tejgaon since Saturday morning, demanding punishment for the Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) Department teacher.

“There are several allegations against Mahfuzur for sexually abusing female students,” EEE student ‘Mohaiminul’ told bdnews24.com.

“We informed the authorities the last time he harrassed a female student. But he forced the student to sign a false statement declaring him innocent. We want him sacked and demand legal proceedings against him.”

AUST vice chancellor told bdnews24.com that they have started an inquiry.

“The matter will be probed. We have already suspended the teacher,” said VC Shafikullah.

bdnews24.com tried to contact Ferdous over the phone but was told he was “busy”.

The man who answered the call gave himself out as the teacher’s ‘PS’ (personal secretary).

AUST authorities failed to inform whether the teacher had a secretary.

“Mr Ferdous is not supposed to have a PS,” the Assistant Personal Secretary to the VC Nazrul Islam told bdnews24.com.