University teachers under the banner of University Teachers鈥� Network, Bangladesh on Wednesday condemned the recent incidents of sexual harassment, hatred and violence against women across the country.
In a joint statement, the platform鈥檚 67 teachers raised a five-point demand including identification of and punishment for those involved in the Lalmatia attack on female students and immediate withdrawal of home adviser鈥檚 comment on the matter.
鈥榃e are deeply concerned that in post-uprising Bangladesh, incidents of sexual harassment, violence, hatred and discrimination against women are on the rise,鈥� read the statement.
It also said that the government and the authorities must bear responsibility for oppression, sexual harassment, violence, and discrimination against women.
Rejecting the attempt to rename Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur and condemning misogynistic efforts to erase the contributions of pioneering women, the university teachers also demanded justice for recent rape and robbery incident on the bus.聽
The teachers demanded the Dhaka University authorities conduct a fair investigation into sexual harassment and violence against private university female students in a clash during the launching of student organisation Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad at Madhu鈥檚 Canteen under the university鈥檚 anti-sexual harassment cell and bring those involved in the incident to book.
They also demanded immediate cancellation of the expulsion orders for nine female students of Chittagong University, resignation of the CU proctor and formation of an impartial investigation committee incorporating representatives of University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and female students to investigate the role of the university administration, student mobs, journalists, social media commenters and the proctor in the CU incident.
The signatories of the statement included Dhaka University professor Gitiara Nasreen, former Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Muhammad, Jahangirnagar University professor Mirza Taslima Sultana, DU associate professor Samina Luthfa and University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh faculty Oliur Sun.