Khulna University Students Protest Amid Scandal Over Hidden Cameras in Women’s Hall
Photo Collected
Students at Khulna University staged a protest at the campus’s Hadi Chattar on Thursday to demand swift justice and enhanced security following the arrest of a canteen worker accused of secretly recording female students in a dormitory restroom. More than 100 students from various disciplines gathered to condemn the incident, chanting slogans and calling for the administration to move beyond verbal assurances toward concrete, transparent legal action.
The unrest began late Wednesday night when students detained a canteen employee, identified as Imam Hasan, after discovering he had allegedly been using a mobile phone to film students in the Bijoy ’24 Hall restrooms. Hasan’s wife was also taken into custody amid allegations that she was involved in the distribution of the recordings. Following the confrontation, the university administration handed both individuals over to the police, who have since registered a case against them under eight non-bailable sections of the Pornography Control Act, 2012.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Protesters are questioning the scope of the investigation, arguing that it is implausible for a single individual to have recorded and stored a large volume of footage over a six-month period without outside assistance or complicity. Beyond the restroom incident, students are also pressuring the university to expedite the resolution of pending sexual harassment complaints lodged against two faculty members. On Thursday morning, the situation escalated as students locked the university’s main gate and administrative building, effectively halting academic and administrative operations in protest of what they characterized as the administration’s slow response to safety lapses.
University Treasurer Professor Nurunnabi addressed the demonstrators, assuring them that the administration is providing full cooperation to law enforcement. He confirmed that the suspect’s mobile phone remains under police seal and will be examined in the presence of the hall provost and student representatives. According to Professor Nurunnabi, the suspect has already been presented before a magistrate court.
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In response to the mounting pressure, Bijoy ’24 Hall Provost Professor Selina Ahmed announced that the university has terminated the canteen’s contract and implemented a ban on mobile phone usage for all staff members within the residence hall. A five-member investigation committee has been formed, with a mandate to submit its findings within three days. Despite these measures, student leaders remain skeptical, citing concerns over the perceived lack of accountability and demanding that the university set a lasting precedent to ensure the safety of women on campus.
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