RU Correspondent: Rajshahi University(RU) Islamic Study department students organized a human chain demanding religious teasing punishment in front of the central library today.

Students allege a teacher, prof. Hafizur Rahman of the Islamic Study Department teasing girls students.

Meanwhile, students stand with placate as ‘Hijab niqab veil is my pride, my pride’, ‘Belittled and taunted by father’s clothes is Not recommended by a teacher’, ‘Hijab is my freedom’, ‘Criticism of obligatory rules like veils’ Who gave you the right?’, ‘I don’t accept harassment about the niqab, I don’t accept it’, ‘If the teacher is like this, then where is our security?’, ‘I want exemplary punishment for those who take away the freedom of the veil’, ‘Don’t accept Islamic discipline in the name of free thinking.’

Besides, in the screenshot of the teacher’s conversation on Messenger, he wrote to a student, ‘I want to talk to you?’ The student wrote, ‘Yes sir’ She wrote, ‘Honestly speaking, do you know your eyes are too much attractive.’ In another conversation, the teacher wrote – ‘Can you send your picture just only for me?’ The student wrote – ‘Sorry, I have no picture’. Then the teacher wrote – ‘ Yes, just lame excuse. I know that you use smartphone. So picture is nothing matter.’

A Victim Fatematus Saniha, a student of the Islamic study department said, ” We attended classes only for three days. One day in class I was blowing a small piece of paper, and he told me ‘What are you doing?’ Then I said I was blowing for heat. Sir said after hearing this, it is very mediocre. You will feel hot wearing this kind of clothes. Keep your heat to yourself.

Another day my friend Mimi gave her a present. But sir did not accept and said ‘Open your niqab’ and event sir told my friend Tahera ‘What kind of dress is this?’ He not only insulted the niqab but also insulted the Islamic culture. If we are harassed like studying in Islamic Studies, how about those studying in other departments? So where is our security? She added.

Master’s student Abdur Rakib said that As a student of the Islamic Studies department, I could not imagine that I would have to deal with such issues. We have teachers in the department who are very student-friendly. But ‘accidentally’ there is a teacher like Hafizur Rahman whose name is difficult to pronounce.

Also, Since the first year, I have been observing this teacher knocking on girls’ inboxes, and talking about personal matters. We have hundreds of such screenshots. They don’t dare to open their mouths. We protest against such a reprehensible act of that teacher and demand exemplary punishment for him.

Mahaer Islam, a student of the department, said ‘As studying in the country’s 2nd highest university, how a person can speak out about his rights, how a woman can deal with bullying and harassment, teachers teach us. But in a university, when a culprit enters the campus as a teacher, the main goal of the university is distant from there.

‘The teachers who will teach us the rights of our sisters, teach us how to protect ourselves from bullying and harassment, when female students confess to harassment, bullying, and sexual harassment, we ordinary students are forced to stop studying and suspend class exams and stand on the streets. In this human chain, we want exemplary punishment of that teacher’ he also said.

Professor Hafizur Rahman, the accused teacher, claimed that the posts were likely from fake IDs and expressed his commitment to not saying anything in class that could hurt anyone, emphasizing his respect for others.

He suggested that students could have approached department officials instead of resorting to social media. He stated that if he realized any mistakes or slips of the tongue, he would promptly admit and apologize, but he insisted that such a situation had not occurred.

The department chairman, Professor Dr. Md. Ashraf-uz-Zaman, mentioned that he wasn’t officially informed about any complaints. He added that no students have approached him, and no action has been taken since no complaints have been received. He is discussing the matter with senior teachers to determine an appropriate course of action.

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