Social media has emerged as a new source of concern for women teachers and students at Dhaka University, with several recent incidents of cyberbullying leaving victims frustrated over what they describe as a slow administrative response.
Multiple allegations have been raised against a Facebook group called “Dhaka Bisshobidyaloy Shikharthi Songshod,” where several “bot IDs” or fake accounts have repeatedly targeted women teachers and students with different ideological views.
Sociology Professor Samina Luthfa filed a general diary at Shahbagh Police Station on 15 May after facing cyber bullying from this group.
In her complaint, she said most members of the group’s admin panel are not DU students and alleged that the platform was being used to serve the interests of a specific political party.
Luthfa says she submitted a copy of the GD to Vice Chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan, but no action has been taken so far.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, she said, “As a university teacher and a Senate member nominated by the president, I have still not received any resolution to the matter. How will ordinary students get justice?”
Committees revived, but complaints mount
The university restructured its sexual harassment investigation committee on 26 June as part of wider measures to prevent sexual harassment, bullying, and ragging. The committee has so far received at least seven to eight formal complaints.
But Professor Upama Kabir, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and the committee’s convenor, said the number of new complaints has increased significantly in recent weeks.
Kabir added, “Perhaps earlier the issue was not visible to everyone, but now it is reaching a wider audience. We are trying our best to resolve pending complaints as quickly as possible.”
The DU administration also formed another five-member committee to prevent bullying and ragging.
Committee Convenor Shahnaz Huda, a professor at the law department, said she has not yet received any formal complaint. Huda added that bullying-related complaints are first submitted to respective faculties before being forwarded to the committee.
Administration’s stance
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, Vice Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed said, “Committees on cyberbullying had long remained inactive but have now been made reactive with highly skilled members following High Court directives.
“We formed a women abuse prevention cell earlier, and now a more powerful committee has been established with people capable of understanding the technical aspects, because cyber bullying is a specialised issue.”
Professor Niaz added, “The administration was maintaining regular communication with relevant government institutions not due to their influence, but to safeguard students’ interests.
“Ongoing investigations are being handled professionally, though limited resources mean wider cooperation is essential.”
Students say the complexity of existing procedures discourages them from filing complaints of sexual harassment or bullying, as cases often take a year or more to investigate. Some say they avoid complaining to escape further trouble.
Lengthy delays in resolution
Professor Luthfa said any complaint submitted to the vice chancellor, pro-vice chancellor, or proctor first go through the Syndicate before reaching the inquiry committees, causing lengthy delays in resolution.
Students say cyber bullying is not merely an online attack, but one that undermines academic safety and freedom of expression.
Sayfa Islam, a second-year student at Shamsunnahar Hall, said, “Before posting anything on social or political issues, we now have to think about who might take a screenshot, distort it, and circulate it.”
DU teacher and assistant proctor Shehreen Amin Monami filed a case under the Cyber Security Act at Shahbagh Police Station on 3 November, accusing individuals of distorting her photos and posting obscene comments on Facebook.
A court has instructed police to investigate and submit a report by 9 December.
At the same time, the DU unit of Biplobi Chhatra Maitri submitted a written appeal to the pro-vice chancellor demanding immediate action against those responsible for cyberbullying and offensive remarks targeting DU teachers and students on 3 November.
Rokeya Hall Chhatra Dal Joint Convenor Sakiba Sultana Bonna said she was harassed on social media after sharing her hall committee list. Her father commented “Congratulations” on the post, but she said the responses that followed were deeply abusive.
“The obscene and sexually charged remarks made about me in response to my father’s comment were unbearable. I cannot imagine how my father felt reading such things about his daughter,” she said.
About a year ago, student Tajfiha Ukhrose went to the Proctor’s Office with a sexual harassment complaint. She said she was told to file it with her department instead. “A committee was formed, but there has been no progress in a year.
“I contacted them multiple times, but they never informed me of any updates.”
She said another teacher recommended a different procedure, but the process seemed too long and complex. “It felt like the case would remain unresolved even after I finished my degree.”
Biplobi Chhatra Maitri DU unit convenor Nuzia Hasin Rasha alleged that the continuous online attacks on women were politically motivated and that protests against such attacks are “selective.”
She added, “Women who challenge patriarchy or refuse to serve its interests are being targeted with tagging, insults, and online bullying to silence them. The same group is taking positions selectively for some women who remain within that patriarchal structure.”
Identifying perpetrators a challenge
Assistant Proctor Dr Muhammad Rafiqul Islam said, “DU authorities had discussed the ‘Dhaka Bisshobidyaloy Shikharthi Songshod’ group several times before the Ducsu poll but could not reach a decision due to mixed reactions from students.
“The platform is becoming increasingly toxic and many users posted abusive comments anonymously, making it difficult to identify perpetrators.”
Dr Rafiqul Islam said the administration would soon hold discussions with stakeholders to ensure safety and freedom of expression for teachers and students on social media. “We will sit with all parties and discuss the strongest possible measures that can be taken,” he said.
