Forming committees to prevent sexual harassment at universities is not enough; the committees must take effective steps to fulfill their responsibilities, said University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed.

He said all complaints of sexual harassment must be investigated seriously and necessary action taken promptly. Universities that fail to properly perform their duties in preventing sexual harassment will face action from the UGC.

The UGC chairman also stressed the need to ensure a safe and supportive environment for female teachers, students, officers and employees at every university.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the UGC and UN Women at the UGC building in Agargaon on Thursday (August 27).

The MoU was signed under a European Union-funded project aimed at preventing sexual and gender-based violence in workplaces, public spaces and higher education institutions.

Professor Mamun Ahmed said committees to prevent sexual harassment have been formed at all public universities and several private universities in line with directives from the High Court. However, UGC monitoring has found that many of these committees are not performing as expected.

“The committee cannot simply be formed; it must work effectively. After a woman files a complaint, no one responsible should be able to say, ‘This is not my responsibility,’” he said.

Emphasizing the need to investigate every complaint promptly and ensure appropriate resolution, he said the UGC would take action if any university failed to fulfill its responsibilities.

The UGC chairman also said an initiative is underway to form a national-level committee to coordinate and monitor universities’ efforts to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The proposed committee will include representatives of university teachers, students, officers and employees, as well as the UGC.

The committee will coordinate and oversee universities’ complaint-handling and redress mechanisms, along with their preventive activities.

Professor Mamun Ahmed said awareness against sexual harassment and gender-based violence must be increased while a zero-tolerance policy must be effectively implemented. He said coordinated efforts by the UGC and universities could help create safer, discrimination-free and supportive learning environments on campuses.

Baiba Zerina, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation, said eliminating sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination is important for ensuring quality education and strengthening higher education institutions. She stressed the need to create safe and supportive environments for female teachers, students, officers and employees in workplaces and higher education institutions.

She said the agreement between the UGC and UN Women would help increase awareness, strengthen complaint and redress mechanisms, and build institutional capacity to create safe and discrimination-free educational environments.

Under the agreement, institutional capacity to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence will be strengthened at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, Begum Rokeya University, Daffodil International University and American International University-Bangladesh.

UN Women and Ain o Salish Kendra will jointly work to strengthen complaint committees and institutional mechanisms, improve complaint reception and referral systems, and raise awareness among students and staff.

Among those present at the event were UGC Member Professor Dr Md Abdullah-Al-Mamun; Director of the International Cooperation Department Dr Sultan Mahmud Bhuiyan; Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Khairul Islam; Project Implementation Task Team Convener Dr Mohammad Saiful Islam; Khulna University Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee Chair Professor Mehrun Nessa Taslima Khatun; Begum Rokeya University Vice-Chancellor Md Shawkat Ali; American International University-Bangladesh Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Saiful Islam; representatives Farhin Hasan and Nazia Farhana; Daffodil International University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr M. R. Kabir; Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee Chair Professor Dr Sharifa Sultana; and Jasmin Parvin, a UGC director and member of the committee formed to prevent sexual and gender-based violence in workplaces, public spaces and higher education institutions, along with officials from various universities, the UGC and UN Women.

UGC Secretary Dr Md Fakhrul Islam signed the MoU on behalf of the commission, while UN Women Bangladesh Representative Gitanjali Singh signed on behalf of UN Women.

The event also highlighted findings from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics’ 2024 national survey, which showed that 16 percent of young women aged 20 to 24 had experienced technology-facilitated gender-based violence.