The recent rape incident is the consequence of impunity culture, the teachers alleged at a human chain organized by Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association on Wednesday.
Citing the recent rape incident as part of the impunity culture, Prof Mohammad Golam Rabbani, a professor of the History department and a senate member of the university, said, "A teacher accused of sexual harassment has confessed to the allegations against him, but the university VC is prolonging the trial. A structured committee has been formed, but the trial has not been completed after fourteen months. The recent rape incident is the consequence of the impunity culture."
"VC is the head of the structured committee. VC didn suspend the teacher temporarily though it was mentioned in the prevailing rules and regulations," he added.
Echoing the same, Anichha Parvin Jolly, a professor of History department, said, "The step against the accused of the recent incident was taken immediately by calling the syndicate. The other sexual harassment incident must be addressed in a speedy manner including a teacher who has been accused of sexual harassment."
The teachers made the allegations at around 12:00pm at the university Shaheed Minar premises during the movement against repression at the peak level on campus over raping a woman by a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League and his associates by keeping her husband confined on February 3.
The accused teacher, Mahmudur Rahman Joni, an assistant professor of Public Health and Informatics department and a formerly sacked assistant proctor, has been accused of sexual harassment.
The teachers at the human chain demanded the exemplary punishment of the prime accused and his associates over the incident of gang rape on JU campus.
Meanwhile, a member of the structured committee on the condition of anonymity said, "Joni has primarily confessed the allegations against him. We are also sure that Joni is the culprit. Joni has to face tough punishment."
Expressing frustration over the VCs indifference to finish the trial of Joni, the member also said, "JU VC who is the head of the structured committee told us that he also wants justice. But he always avoids and doesn want to talk about the matter."
Besides the Nipiron Birodhi Mancha, JU Sangskritik Jote, progressive students demonstrated with black flags during their protest.
Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) formed a three-member fact-finding committee to investigate the overall aspects of the recent rape incident.
UGCs Public University Management Division Director Mohammad Jaminur Rahman as convener, Deputy Director Mauli Azad as Member, Assistant Director Md Sehzad Rifat Siyam as member secretary of the Fact-Finding committee.
However, the university administration extended the probe body over the recent rape incident by including Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell Chief Professor Jebunnessa and Philosophy Departement Professor ASM Anwarullah Bhuiyan.
