Nipironer Biruddhe Jahangirnagar demands judicial probe into Dhaka Stream staff's death, harassment allegations
In their statement, the group described Sornomoye’s death as a case of “structural killing” and said, “She was pushed towards suicide after facing sexual harassment at her workplace.”
Nipironer Biruddhe Jahangirnagar (Jahangirnagar against oppression) has issued a statement demanding a judicial investigation into the death of Dhaka Stream employee Sornomoye Biswas, and allegations of workplace sexual harassment at the media outlet.
Some 77 former and current students from various batches and departments of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have signed the statement in solidarity, according to a press release.
The death of Sornomoye, a 28-year-old Dhaka Stream graphics designer found hanging in her home on 19 October, sparked outrage due to previous sexual harassment complaints she and others had filed against a senior editor.
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In their statement, the group described Sornomoye's death as a case of "structural killing" and said, "She was pushed towards suicide after facing sexual harassment at her workplace."
The statement noted that Dhaka Stream violated the High Court directive on workplace sexual harassment prevention by failing to take appropriate action against Altaf Shahnewaz, its Bangla content editor, after seven female employees jointly signed a complaint of harassment against him.
"Instead of ensuring justice, the management reportedly terminated some of those who participated in the complaint process," the statement said.
Dhaka Stream later confirmed in its own press note on 19 October that Shahnewaz had been "withdrawn from the newsroom" following an internal probe, but no suspension or further action was taken.
The statement added that the outlet was "finalising a code of conduct" and claimed there was "no link between Swarnamoyee's death and the earlier complaint."
Terming the company's response "an attempt to shield the accused," the group said, "Dhaka Stream's statement trivialised sexual harassment by calling it 'unprofessional behaviour' and referred to Swarnamoyee's suicide as a 'tragic death,' thereby downplaying the gravity of the incident."
They further called on Dhaka Stream's editor and publisher Iftekhar Mahmud and HR manager PM Sajal Ahmed to take full responsibility for the organisation's failure to act in line with the court's directives.
The group also urged Jahangirnagar University authorities to review the status of Altaf Shahnewaz, currently a PhD researcher in the Department of Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, and take appropriate measures based on the outcome of a judicial probe.
The statement concluded with a three-point demand, including, a judicial investigation into Sornomoye's death and the harassment allegations against Altaf Shahnewaz.
