University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh will take action against universities that fail to investigate sexual harassment complaints with gravity and speed, UGC Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed warned on Thursday.
He emphasised that simply forming prevention committees is not enough; they must actively and effectively discharge their duties to ensure a safe and supportive environment for female teachers, students, officers, and employees.
Negligence in performing these duties to prevent sexual harassment will lead to action being taken against the concerned university.
Speaking as the chief guest at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the UGC and UN Women at UGC Bhaban in Agargaon, Mamun Ahmed declared that every university must guarantee a secure campus environment.
The agreement was signed under a European Union (EU)-funded project aimed at preventing sexual and gender-based violence in workplaces, public spaces, and higher education institutions.
While sexual harassment prevention committees have been established in all public universities and several private universities in line with High Court directives, UGC monitoring has revealed that many of these committees are not performing as expected.
“Forming the committee is not enough, it must work effectively,” Mamun said. “After a woman files a complaint, no one in charge should be able to say, ‘This is not my job’.” he added.
He stressed that every complaint must be investigated promptly and necessary solutions secured, reiterating that the Commission will penalise any university that fails to perform its duties.
To oversee and co-ordinate prevention efforts across higher education institutions, the UGC is initiating the formation of a national-level committee. This proposed body will comprise university teachers, students, officers, employees, and UGC representatives.
It will be tasked with co-ordinating and monitoring complaint submission procedures, redressal systems, and preventive activities across campuses.
The chairman also urged the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy alongside running awareness campaigns against sexual and gender-based violence. He added that co-ordinated efforts between the commission and universities could transform campuses into safer, non-discriminatory, and supportive learning environments.
Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation Baiba Zariņa highlighted that eliminating sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination is crucial for ensuring quality education and institutionalising higher education.
She underscored the necessity of establishing safe and supportive workplaces and campuses for female staff and students.
She said the new MoU would strengthen institutional capacity for awareness-raising, grievance redressal, and fostering safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory learning environments. Under the MoU, institutional capacity to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence will be strengthened at five universities.
These are Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Khulna University, Begum Rokeya University, Daffodil International University, and American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB).
UN Women and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) will work jointly to reinforce complaint committees and institutional mechanisms, improve complaint reception and referral systems, and boost awareness among students and staff.
The MoU was formally signed by UGC Secretary Md Fakhrul Islam and UN Women Bangladesh Representative Gitanjali Singh.
During the event, data from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) National Survey 2024 was highlighted, which revealed that 16 per cent of young women aged between 20 and 24 have experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished gathering of academics and officials, including UGC Member Professor Md Abdullah-al-Mamun, Director of International Cooperation Department Sultan Mahmud Bhuiyan, SUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Khairul Islam, Project Implementation Task Team Convenor Mohammad Saiful Islam, and President of Khulna University’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee Professor Meherun Nesa Taslima Khatun.
Also in attendance were Begum Rokeya University Vice-Chancellor Md Showkat Ali, AIUB Vice-Chancellor Professor Saiful Islam alongside representatives Farheen Hasan and Nazia Farhana, Daffodil International University Vice-Chancellor Professor MR Kabir, the university’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee President Professor Sharifa Sultana, and UGC Director Jasmine Parveen, who is also a member of the committee formed to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in workplaces, public spaces, and higher education institutions, alongside other officials from various universities, the UGC, and UN Women.
