Shawdesh Desk:

The Jahangirnagar University has expelled a master’s student of archeology department on a charge of sexually assaulting a female student.

The expelled student is Rakib Ahmed.

The university syndicate passed the order on Friday in a meeting chaired by vice-chancellor Nurul Alam, two JU syndicate members confirmed the matter to New Age on Saturday.

The order of expulsion was first taken in a syndicate meeting on April 18 based on the report of JU anti-sexual harassment cell after the victim lodged a complaint in this regard in August, 2022.

The syndicate upheld a similar decision in the meeting on May 12 following a further verification of the allegation against Rakib.

‘The decision was taken following the report of anti-sexual harassment cell that found evidence of sexually harassing, cheating and beating a third-year female student of the university,’ Syndicate member professor Laek Sazzad Andallah told New Age.

‘The syndicate considered the report to pronounce the ultimate expulsion order.’

JU unit Bangladesh Chhatra Union general secretary Amartya Ray, however, alleged that not publishing an official expulsion order even after a month since the April-18 syndicate meeting was giving the accused Rakib a political leverage to sway the decision.

Citing the High Court directive to resolve any sexual harassment in educational institutions within 90 days, Amartya claimed that the reason behind dilly-dally was to allow Rakib to complete his final examinations in June, and get off scot-free.

In August 2022, the victim student lodged an allegation of sexual harassment, mentioning that Rakib also beat her several times and gave death threat over phone once she tried to seek the university administration’s help.

Progressive students of the university demonstrated on the campus demanding speedy trial of the accused Rakib Ahmed.

Rakib did not receive phone calls despite repeated attempts to get his comments over the expulsion decision.