Barishal Univ teacher suspended after serving jail in attempted rape case, probe body formed

The university has also formed a three-member committee to investigate the matter.

An office order, signed by Acting Registrar Associate Professor Dr. Md Abdul Alim Bashir, was issued on Monday. The decision was disclosed to the media later that night.

According to the order, Shafiqul Islam is facing trial in a criminal case filed with Mohammadpur Police Station in Dhaka under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 (as amended), along with relevant sections of the Penal Code.

He was arrested and remained in jail in connection with the case.

In light of the matter, the university suspended him with effect from September 16, 2025, in accordance with Section 39(2) of the Government Service Act, 2018, and Section 44(6) of the Barishal University Act. During the suspension period, he will receive a subsistence allowance as prescribed by the rules. The order took immediate effect.

University sources said Shafiqul Islam is currently on study leave.

According to the case statement, a woman from Dhaka, had a personal relationship with Shafiqul Islam, and their families had reportedly been discussing marriage. The complaint alleges that he later called the woman to his residence in Mohammadpur, assaulted her, and subsequently took her to a residential hotel in Kuakata, where he allegedly attempted to rape her.

Police reportedly found evidence supporting the allegations during the investigation and submitted the chargesheet to the court. However, officers declined to comment further, citing the case's pending trial.

Repeated attempts to contact Shafiqul Islam for comment were unsuccessful.

The complainant also declined to comment, saying the matter is currently under judicial consideration.

Chairman of the Department of English, Associate Professor Dr. Tanvir Kaisar, said Shafiqul Islam had been on study leave for more than one and a half years, during which the case was filed and he remained in jail. After the charge sheet was submitted, he recently applied to rejoin the department.

At the same time, a woman submitted a written complaint against him to the university authorities. Following the complaint, the university temporarily suspended him and formed a three-member investigation committee headed by Associate Professor Suprabhat Halder of the Department of Law.

Acting Registrar Dr. Abdul Alim Bashir said the case is a criminal matter, and its investigation and trial fall under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies and the courts.

"The university has taken action solely from the perspective of service discipline and in accordance with the relevant laws," he added.