Students of Manirampur Government Girls’ High School staged a protest on Monday demanding action against an English teacher over allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour towards multiple students.
The accused teacher, Ekramul Islam, was taken into police custody following the protest.
Police also seized his mobile phone and computer for investigation.
The students alleged that Ekramul had been harassing them and behaving inappropriately for a long time.
They also accused him of threatening students with failure in examinations if they spoke out against him.
The protest began on the school premises on Monday morning.
When the headteacher failed to bring the situation under control, Manirampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Md Samrat Hossen, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mahir Dayan Amin, Secondary Education Officer Mozzafar Hossain and Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Sayeed visited the school.
The students submitted a written complaint against the teacher to the UNO, who informed senior officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education’s Khulna division and recommended action against the accused.
Following the move, the students returned to their classrooms.
Headteacher A K M Tashir Uddin said a letter had already been sent to the higher authorities on Sunday seeking action against the teacher based on students’ complaints.
School Managing Committee President and UNO Md Samrat Hossen said he spoke with the students after visiting the school and recommended the strongest possible action against the teacher.
Manirampur Police Station OC Abu Sayeed confirmed that the teacher had been taken into police custody. “His mobile phone and computer have been seized.
Legal action is under process,” he said.
