Khulna University Sacks Senior Academic Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

Khulna University (KU) has terminated the employment of Professor Md Rezaul Islam, a senior faculty member in the Agrotechnology Discipline, following an internal inquiry that validated severe allegations of sexual harassment and professional misconduct.

The disciplinary measure was ratified during the university’s 237th Syndicate meeting on Thursday, 30 July. In a parallel development, university authorities established a high-powered five-member investigation committee to examine separate sexual harassment claims made against Professor Dr Md Rubel Ansar of the Bangla Discipline. This panel was formed in light of a preliminary report submitted by the institution’s Sexual Harassment and Exploitation Prevention Centre.

Providing details on the decision, the Acting Registrar of Khulna University, Professor Dr S. M. Mahbubur Rahman, confirmed that the newly constituted five-member body is an independent administrative committee distinct from the prevention centre. The executive panel has been mandated to complete its inquiry and submit a definitive findings report within 30 working days.

Campus Unrest and Escalating Student Protests

The university’s decisive action comes on the heels of widespread campus disruption, as students initiated an indefinite boycott of lectures, examinations, and administrative services. Student bodies mobilised across the university to demand institutional accountability regarding three primary grievances:

• Formal termination and legal proceedings against Professor Md Rezaul Islam.

• An immediate and impartial investigation into Professor Dr Md Rubel Ansar.

• Punitive measures against a canteen employee at the Bijoy–24 Hall accused of secretly recording female students.

Tensions escalated after initial discussions between student representatives and university officials yielded insufficient progress. Expressing dissatisfaction over perceived administrative inaction, protesting students locked down major academic and administrative buildings on Thursday, bringing university operations to a standstill.

Details of the Misconduct and Inquiry Findings

The formal grievance process against Professor Islam was set in motion on 16 June, when students from the Agrotechnology Discipline submitted a written petition on behalf of the primary victim to the Sexual Harassment and Exploitation Prevention Centre. The submission was accompanied by digital evidence, including screenshots of inappropriate correspondence sent via instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Following the receipt of the complaint, a seven-member investigation panel headed by Professor Mst Taslima Khatun, President of the prevention centre, initiated formal proceedings on 17 June.

Documentary evidence submitted to the panel demonstrated a pattern of boundary violations. While the lecturer initially displayed normal professional conduct, his communications rapidly devolved into explicit, unwanted advances and inappropriate remarks regarding the student’s personal life and appearance.

The victim shared her experience regarding the sequence of events:

“The day after I sent a friend request on Facebook, he accepted it and instantly started messaging me. While this initially surprised me, his messages progressively became distressing and unpalatable. When the situation became intolerable, I confided in my peers and discipline representatives. Though effective measures were not taken immediately, I ultimately decided to pursue formal administrative redress.”

She further reflected on the broader implications of her decision:

“This nature of conduct is wholly unbefitting of an academic guide. Although I felt intimidated by his position of authority, I recognised the necessity of confronting this injustice. I hope my actions encourage other affected students to voice their grievances, and that a strong precedent is set to prevent future occurrences.”

Following the publicity of the case, additional testimonies emerged regarding historical misconduct by the same academic. An alumna from the Agrotechnology Discipline reported that Professor Islam possessed a longstanding record of verbal and psychological harassment stretching back nearly twelve years. According to her account, even prior to the ubiquity of modern social media, he regularly subjected female undergraduates—specifically married students—to intrusive questions during class hours, late-night phone calls, and uncomfortable text messages.

Khulna University authorities reiterated their commitment to maintaining an equitable academic environment, emphasizing that further steps will be taken based on the findings of the newly appointed committee.