The thirty-eight public universities operating within the country are supposed to follow a high court directive and form committees to prevent sexual harassment.

However, the mandatory committee is present in only thirty institutions, whereas, most of the existing ones are inactive due to the absence of fund allocation.

Reportedly, there is negligence in investigating a case while the authorities are lethargic in taking action. There is also the accusation of indiscretion in carrying out the probe.  

Sometimes, victims are psychologically tortured in the name of a hearing.

These startling facts have come up from University Grants Commission, UGC, and Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA).

Based on a BNWLA filed writ, the high court gave a verdict on May 24, 2009, outlining directives to prevent sexual harassment; that verdict ordered all education institutes and professional institutes to form a five member committee.

The high court specified that committees should be headed by a woman and give preference to female representation.

Later, based on the high court verdict, the UGC ordered all universities to formulate a guideline to prevent sexual harassment.

After ten years, seven leading universities do not have this committee.

On March 11, UGC gave letters to universities asking why there is a distinct hesitation in pursuing an investigation at universities that have committees.

The letter asked the universities to give a report on sexual harassment between 1 January and 30 June, 2017.

But in the specified ten days for submission, no report was received.

Until 15 April, only three universities (Haji Danesh Science and Technology University, Barishal University and Chattogram Technology and Engineering University) submitted reports.  Later, until June 7, Dhaka University and Rajshahi University submitted their data.

UGC informed that though Jahangirnagar University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology did not send data in the specified time, their committees are active.

Eight universities do not have committees; the remaining 28 institutions have the required body, though only in name.

UGC is not convinced by the performance of another 23 universities.  Haji Danesh University told UGC of one complaint, which is under investigation.

Meanwhile, Barishal University and Chittagong University of Science and Technology, CUET, have zero complaints, with no running investigation.

Only Haji Danesh University of Science and Technology has allotted funds for the committee and CUET is the lone institution to have a complaint box.

Though all university authorities confirmed to having orientation for students on sexual harassment, the Bangla Tribune has found discrepancies.

Bangla Tribune has discovered that there isn’t any booklet to help students learn about harassment.

Much needed confidentiality in investigating such cases cannot be maintained since there isn’t any office with a computer.

Sources say, between January 1 and June 30, 2017, five complaints were submitted to the sexual harassment prevention committee of DU.

A submitted report to UGC says that after completion of all relevant investigation, measures were taken against the perpetrators.

Of the five accused at DU, four were removed or, their employment terminated. The fate of the remaining one was not disclosed.

Rajshahi University did not have any complaint in the Jan-June period but said they arrange orientation for teachers, students and staff.

Bangla Tribune investigation reveals that the committee at RU was formed in 2011 and the current body received seven complaints in the last one and a half years.

Reportedly, the university authority did not take any step though final reports on five cases were submitted.

Two cases were resolved through mutual compromise.

Professor Selina Parvin, head of the sexual harassment prevention committee, said: “we work in the face of countless adversities; it’s important to maintain secrecy of the committee but we do not have a separate room or a computer.”

Meanwhile, UGC did not get any data from Jagannath University until June 7 last. But sources say that there have been 19 complaints since 2014.

Of these, 17 were investigated while two are under probe. Reports for 14 were submitted and three investigations could not be completed due to various obstacles.

Despite the submission of reports, the university syndicate did not take a decision on a single one.

There’s no orientation on the issue. Though a complaint box is in existence.

Head of the sexual harassment investigation committee, Ferdousi, also a teacher of the department of journalism and communication, says: “it’s important to allocate fund for the committee and ensure confidentiality.”

Meanwhile, UGC is not satisfied with investigating committees in 22 universities.

Eight public varsities do not have the sexual harassment probe committee: BUET, Islami University, Khulna University, National University, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Jashore Science and Technology University, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Science University and Begum Rokeya University.

However, BUET and Rokeya University claim they have committees though they could not provide data about the convener or members.

Teacher of Anthropology and convener of the sexual harassment probe committee of Jahangirnagar University, Professor, Rsheda Akhter, says: “since inception, we received 17 complaints; all probes were completed and syndicate decision taken on 16 cases.”

The professor underlined the necessity for separate funds, saying that in the prevailing system, the university provides the fund, once there’s a complaint.

Though the members do not have separate seating places, some essential equipment like recorders and computers have been purchased, she added.

“The university authority has pledged a separate room.”

It’s believed that UN Women and a project of BNWLA are working with the university to prevent sexual harassment.

Criticising the tendency to flout the court order, UGC chairman, Professor, Abdul Mannan, told Bangla Tribune: “some do not even have a committee while the existing committees are often inactive.”