The decision to extend the working time of the probe committee, formed by the government to investigate the events following the incident of sexual harassment at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, has created confusion as two different statements were issued by the concerned officials.
On Friday the convener of the committee, Dhaka Education Board's examination controller Wahiduzzaman, told New Age that they might submit their report on Sunday.
But on the same day the chairman of the Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Fahima Khatun, told New Age that the committee had been given five more days as the convener had sought more time.
Sources in the Dhaka Education Board told New Age that the committee had completed its task by the deadline and planned to submit the report, but suddenly the decision was changed.
'The committee members even worked on Friday to complete the report. Their field-level work was done by Thursday and they completed the report on Friday,' said an official of the Board.
When asked why they could not submit the report in due time, the convener of the committee, Wahiduzzaman, told New Age that they had to do some regular work for the Board and could not manage the time to put the finishing touches to the report. 'Also it took time to visit all the campuses of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College,' he added.
He said that the committee members had spoken to the victims, teachers, and students.
The government formed the five-member committee after the students of the institution staged demonstrations for a couple of days in mid-July, demanding punishment of Parimal Jayadhar, a teacher of the school arrested on charge of violating a student, and removal of the college's principal, Husne Ara Begum, for defending and protecting the accused.
The committee which started work on July 17 was given ten working days, of which Thursday was the last day, to submit its report.
But it was suddenly given five more days to submit the report as the convener reportedly sought more time.
The committee was asked to find out whether anyone had instigated the students to launch 'violent' demonstrations, whether the principal was guilty of any negligence and whether the authorities concerned had intentionally refrained from scotching the protest.
The government on July 13 dissolved the managing committee of the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College after some committee members, in the absence of their chairman Rashed Khan Menon, removed principal Husne Ara Begum and appointed senior teacher Ambia Khatun to the position.
The government on July 14 appointed Manju Ara Begum as the acting principal after a weeklong protest by students demanding removal of Husne Ara Begum.
Source : New Age
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