RU teacher accused of sexual harassment

The president of Rajshahi University Teachers' Association has been accused of sexually harassing a student in his Department of Geology and Mining.

The department's academic committee has decided to suspend Kamrul Hasan Mazumdar from all activities relating to examinations and research by students after a preliminary review of the matter, said Golam Sabbir Sattar, chairman of the department.

The authenticity of the complaint was being reviewed and the matter was still under investigation, said the head of the university's Sexual Harassment and Abuse Prevention Committee Prof Dr Mahbuba Kaniz Keya.

The first-year student submitted a written allegation of sexual harassment against Prof Majumdar at the end of October, she said.

She refused to give further details until the investigation was finished.

The teacher has been accused of making indecent proposals to the student on several occasions. He allegedly tried to take advantage of her by exploiting his position as a teacher and guaranteeing her good grades if she responded.

The student maintained that she had initially tried to evade the harassments but finally decided to lodge a written complaint after the harassment became unbearable.

Prof Majumdar could not be reached for comments.