The authorities of capital's Mohammadpur Preparatory Higher Secondary School yesterday suspended the rector of its girls' wing and two male staffs for “negligence” in duty amid uproar over alleged sexual assault on a grade-I student by a male staff. 

The decision came after several hundred angry guardians and former students demonstrated on the school premises since morning, demanding a fair probe into the allegations and punishment to the culprit.

They alleged that Zeenatun Nesa, rector of the girls' wing, made derogatory remarks following the allegations of sexual assault, and didn't cooperate with them when enquired about the incident.

M Tamim, member of the school's trustee board, announced the decision before the agitating guardians around 2:30pm.

Later, notices announcing “summer vacation” till May 25 were hung on the gates of the girls' and boys' wings of the school.

“We have heard about several allegations against her. For now, she has been withdrawn from all kinds of activities,” said Tamim, also ex-special assistant to the chief adviser of a caretaker government.

He said they would investigate the allegations against her and take action if she is found guilty.

The male staff, accused of sexually assaulting a grade-I English medium student, was yet to be identified, said Tamim.

The staff allegedly took the student, who studies in day shift, to a quiet place inside the school compound at knifepoint on May 5.

The staff assaulted her sexually and tried to rape her. But she managed to escape, as several other girls saw this and screamed for help, alleged several guardians.

Only a couple of days later, a fifth-grader girl of the school was sexually assaulted, alleged some guardians. They, however, couldn't mention the date and time of the incident.

A middle-aged woman, whose nieces study at the school, alleged that her nieces received threats that they would be given transfer certificates if they shared the stories of sexual assault with anyone outside the school.

A guardian, whose daughter studies in day shift, said they had to take to the streets as the authorities didn't pay heed to their demands for probing the allegations and bringing the culprit to book.

Tamim said the mother of the grade-I student complained to them about the incident on May 9, and they immediately formed a three-member probe body.

The probe body, which includes the victim's father as its member, was initially given three working days to submit a report, and later given a three-day extension. It was supposed to submit the report yesterday.

Tamim, however, said he was unaware whether the report was submitted yesterday.

PROTESTS

Several hundred guardians, ex-students of the school and Bangladesh Chhatra Union activists formed a human chain around 11:00am in front of the girls' wing of the school on Iqbal Road to press home the demand for brining the culprit to justice.

The guardians demonstrated also on Thursday on the school premises and demanded that the probe report be submitted by Saturday (yesterday).

“They have to submit the report… They have to tell what had actually happened,” a former student of the school told this correspondent.

Around 12:00noon yesterday, agitating guardians entered the school through the main gate and demonstrated on the compound. At one point, they demanded that Rector Zeenatun Nesa come out and speak to them.

As the rector didn't show up, some of the protesters damaged her office door.

Later, Belayet Hossain, principal of the school, came out and tried to calm them but failed.

He claimed they had already installed CCTV cameras at the school and removed male sweepers and canteen staffs from the girls' wing as per the guardians' demands.

The guardians yesterday said they would again stage demonstrations in front of the school at 11:00am on May 23.

SUMMER VACATION

On the school authorities' sudden decision to announce summer vacation till May 25, a senior teacher said, “The vacation has been announced hurriedly. We were supposed to go on summer vacation from next week.”

Seeking anonymity, the teacher said they usually enjoy summer vacation for a week.

According to the academic calendar prepared by the education ministry, summer vacation in secondary schools began on May 14 across the country.

However, the schools affected during the nationwide blockade in the first three months of this year can cut their vacations short by a week, according to the ministry decision taken last week.