Angry guardians have forced authorities of the Mohammadpur Preparatory School to take off duty all male employees after complaints of sexual harassment of a minor girl student.
Published : 16 May 2015, 04:59 PM
The institution's Vice-Principal Zeenatun Nesa has also been relieved of her duties after her comments on the issue upset the guardians.
After guardians laid siege to the school and launched agitation on Saturday morning, the institution's Trustee Board member M Tamim made the announcement to placate them.
However, the announcement triggered protests from the teachers, who plan an agitation on Sunday.
School employees also demonstrated against the assault on Principal Belayat Hossain by the guardians.
Former caretaker government adviser Tamim announced forming a committee to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and promised to punish the guilty.
A writ petition has been filed in the High Court over the incident and it may come up for hearing on Sunday.
Already, women employees started replacing the male employees, who are relieved of their duties.
Guardians erupted into furious protests after reports of sexual harassment of a minor girl in an under-construction portion of the institution on May 5 surfaced.
The school’s assurance to investigate the incident failed to pacify them.
Alleging that Principal Hossain was trying to hush up the incident, the guardians gathered in front of the school on Saturday afternoon and started to demonstrate.
Hossain told them that the accused employee, 'Gopal', had been suspended along with another employee Shariful Islam, who had allegedly roughed up a guardian.
He said all those guilty would be punished after another three-member investigation committee submitted its findings.
But the guardians were upset as the committee failed to file its report within three days as it was supposed to.
Some guardians assaulted the principal when he was returning to his office.
He sought refuge in the vice-principal's office but angry guardians smashed window glasses.
The guardians were also upset with Vice Principal Nesa for allegedly telling police that a section of the guardians was trying to ruin the institution’s reputation.
Nesa denied the allegations terming the said comment attributing to her as a “rumour” and an attempt to tarnish the institution’s image.
“I’ll accept any punishment if the allegation is proven,” she told bdnews24.com.
However, the guardians failed to recall when or to whom Nesa had made the alleged comment.
Ward Councillor Habibur Rahman Mizan and few other local notables tried to control the situation and the police also intervened.
It is then that Trustee Board Member Tamim announced the decision to take the male employees off work and forcing Nesa to step down.
He also assured the guardians to discharge the principal and others involved.
The announcement finally placated the guardians and brought the situation under control.
Tamim also said CCTV cameras were installed across the school's premises.
Investigation committee chief Mustafizur Rahman said they could not submit the report on Saturday afternoon due to lack of cooperation from the victim’s father, a member of the committee.
“We could not identify anyone guilty of sexual assault. No-one fitting the victim’s description could be found,” he added.
Preparatory teachers will organise a protest rally on the school premises on Sunday demanding restoring Nesa to her office.
Talking to bdnews24.com, several students said the rumour about death of a student further deteriorated the situation and ruined the institution’s reputation.
Several guardians slapped some of the students for their remarks.
The students went to the school’s first floor and protested there against the physical assault.