DU chemistry professor arrested, sent to jail over sexual harassment of male students

A Dhaka court has sent Md Ershad Halim, professor of Dhaka University's Chemistry Department, to jail in a case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station over allegedly assaulting and sexually harassing several male students.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam passed the order today (14 November) after a hearing, confirmed Rafiqul Islam Russel, sub-inspector (SI) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) prosecution division.

Halim was arrested at around 11pm last night from his residence in Shewrapara by Mirpur police and subsequently sent to court this morning.

SI Mehedi Hasan Milon of Mirpur Model Police Station, the investigation officer of the case, produced the accused Prof Halim before the court and sought an order to keep him in jail during the investigation.

According to the detention plea, the accused had previously taken advantage of the "simplicity" of other male students at Dhaka University, luring them with various promises and coercing them into "unnatural sexual acts".

It further stated that the plaintiff had secretly recorded audio, video, and still photographs of the alleged assaults on different dates using his personal mobile phone.

Preliminary findings indicate that Halim is directly involved in the incidents described in the case, and that his detention is necessary for uncovering the full details and verifying the allegations made in the FIR, it stated.

Police arrested the DU professor shortly after students publicly detailed the accusations yesterday (13 November).

In a press conference at the Dhaka University Journalists' Association (Duja) office last night, a group of DU chemistry students demanded the professor's expulsion and maximum punishment under the law.

'Deeply inappropriate and coercive conduct'

The students alleged that Halim would call male students to his office room or house under various pretexts, where he engaged in "deeply inappropriate and coercive conduct," reports UNB.

They told the press that he would call students to his room, turn off the lights, and close the doors and windows, demanding physical contact.

He would reportedly forcibly touch sensitive parts of their bodies and engage in unwanted behaviour.

One student of the 2022-23 session, Ovik Chakraborty, added that the professor often targeted students who were academically, financially, or mentally vulnerable.

He described a recent incident where Halim allegedly called a victim to his house, asked him to take his shirt off, and then undressed himself before physically and sexually assaulting the student.

The professor reportedly used blackmail to maintain the victim's silence.

DU action

DU Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed told UNB that the police had contacted them, and they were informed that they could proceed with the arrest since the offence is cognisable.

The university authorities had already instructed Halim to refrain from all academic and administrative duties after two students filed formal sexual harassment complaints.

The proctor noted that charges have been forwarded to the university's anti-sexual harassment cell, and further disciplinary action will follow a thorough investigation.