The authorities of Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) suspended one of its teachers from the university on charge of raping a woman in Chattogram last year.
The suspended, Dr Sujan Chowdhury, is an assistant professor of Chemical Engineering department.
A press release, signed by JUST Registrar Engineer Md Ahsan Habib, was issued in this regard on Thursday.
According to the press release, the decision of suspending the teacher was made in light of a formal complaint and recommendations from the university’s departmental academic committee.
The victim, who alleged that teacher Sujan raped her multiple times at her residence in Chattogram on October 22, 2024, submitted a complaint with the Registrar on Tuesday.
The registrar said that they suspended the teacher based on the victim's complaint and the departmental committee’s recommendation.
According to the complainant, the accused repeatedly raped her at her home on October 22 last, and when she approached the police station concerned to file a case, officers refused to register it allegedly after receiving financial inducement from the teacher.
Instead, they advised her to seek legal recourse through the court.
She later filed a case with the Chattogram Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal.
Despite several summons for questioning, Sujan reportedly avoided them and allegedly issued death threats to the complainant.
She also accused him of mounting pressure on her to withdraw the case.
Dr Sujan, however, denied the allegations, saying, “She is blackmailing me for money. The accusations are false.”
Campus sources said that the teacher had previously been accused of leaking semester final exam questions in his department. There have also been unreported allegations of harassment from female students.
