ASK Condemns JNU Syndicate’s Decision
Embargoed till 14 September 2008

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) seriously condemns the Jahangirnagar University Syndicate’s decision discharging  the accused teacher, Sanwar Hossain, of the Drama and Dramatics Department from all allegations of sexual harassment. Press reports state that the Syndicate in its most recent meeting found “the accused teacher was discharged of the allegations due to the lack of proof beyond a reasonable doubt”.

ASK believes that this disturbing decision will undermine the university’s image and set a frustrating precedent regarding teacher-student relationship. In this case not just one but four students of the Department had lodged identical complaints against the teacher in question. In these kinds of incidents, over reliance on technical rules of evidence may prevent justice being done.  There had been an expectation that Jahangirnagar University would follow the path of justice rather than rigidity of procedure.

ASK is seriously concerned by the discharge of the accused teacher in the circumstnaces and believes this amounts to injustice to the victims. We demand publication of the full proceedings of the Syndicate meeting and the report of the Investigation Committee topave the way to justice.