Dhaka University employee arrested for ‘harassing’ student on way to campus

Police have arrested a Dhaka University employee for allegedly harassing a female student on campus.

The student detailed the incident in a Facebook post, saying she was confronted on her way from Shahbagh to the university on Wednesday.

The accused, Mostafa Asif Arnob, works as an assistant binder at the university’s central library.

Shahbagh Police Station chief Md Khalid Mansur said the student lodged a complaint with the university’s proctor office before filing a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

“The man harassed a female student. Following the complaint, he was arrested on Wednesday,” he said.

DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said the accused had made comments about the student’s attire.

“She first shared the incident on social media and later filed a complaint. When brought to the proctor’s office, he admitted to the act,” he said.

“He was then handed over to Shahbagh police, and the library authorities were informed,” he added.

The student’s Facebook post, along with a photo of the perpetrator, spread widely among the university community, prompting demands for action. The post helped identify the accused.

In the post, the student wrote, “This man harassed me on my way from Shahbagh today. He suddenly stopped me and said my dress was inappropriate, that I was not wearing a veil properly. His behaviour was very aggressive. When I asked which department or hall he belonged to, he said he wasn’t a student here.”

“I was wearing a salwar kameez properly with a scarf. He said my scarf had slipped. I told him it wasn’t his concern and that he had no right to stare. When I tried to call the proctor, he ran away.”