Viqarunnisa Noon School and College authorities yesterday fired a teacher on allegation of molesting a class X student.
Porimol Joydhor, the sacked Bangla department teacher of the school's Bashundhara campus, went into hiding after the alleged assault.
Of the same campus, two other teachers -- Barun Chandra Barman of commerce department and Abdul Kalam Azad of religion -- were also suspended for their indecent behaviour with students.
The decisions came at a meeting of the school's governing body following demonstrations of guardians and students at Bashundhara and its main campus of Shiddeshwari for the last few days.
"We've dismissed Porimol on allegation of violating a girl and suspended two other teachers for their indecent behaviour with students," Husne Ara Begum, principal of the school, told The Daily Star.
In the meeting, a committee headed by governing body member Khondakar Afroza Begum has been formed to look into the allegations against Barun and Azad. It will submit a report within one month, she said.
Husne Ara declined to make further comment.
The school, however, in a press release said Lutfur Rahman, in charge of Bashundhara campus, was relieved from duties for his failure to carry responsibilities.
Another four teachers, against whom the students raised allegations, will be transferred.
Yesterday afternoon, the victim's father filed a case with Badda Police Station, accusing Porimol, Lutfur and Husne Ara.
In the complaint, he mentioned that Porimol, who runs a coaching centre at his Badda residence, first molested his daughter on May 28.
As she went to the coaching centre in the morning, Porimol told her to go to another room, the complainant said, adding he locked the door and sexually assaulted her. Porimol violated her once again on June 17.
An unconfirmed source said Porimol on May 28 took a nude photograph of the girl and threatened her with posting the snapshot on the Internet if she refused to meet him.
The blackmail forced her to go to the tutorial house again on June 17, the source added.
Yesterday, enraged parents demonstrated in front of the two campuses, demanding arrest and punishment of Porimol and action against the school principal for her inaction.
They wanted to form a human chain in front of the Shiddeshwari campus but the school authorities did not allow. They, however, managed to form a human chain in front of Bashundhara campus which was declared closed on Monday.
The guardians have been staging protest for the last few days but the authorities did not pay any heed, rather tried to save Porimol, they said.
They also brought allegations of sexual harassment against few more teachers.
"How come a culprit like Porimol escaped whereas the students submitted a written allegation against him in the last week of June?" questioned a mother whose children studies in class X.
The guardians alleged the authorities initially tried to cover up the incident as Porimol was once involved with Bangladesh Chhatra League, a student organisation backed by ruling Awami League.
Prof Noman-ur-Rashid, director general of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), visited the campuses yesterday and talked to parents and teachers.
He said the DSHE's one-member probe body, formed on Monday, will recommend filing criminal case against Porimol and Barun.
The committee will also suggest suspending four other teachers against whom the students and guardians brought allegations, he said.
"The probe committee will also recommend taking steps against the school principal since she cannot deny responsibility."
Source : The Daily Star
