Angry guardians have forced authorities of the Mohammadpur Preparatory School and College to take off duty all male employees after complaints of sexual harassment of a minor girl studying there, reports bdnews24.com.
The institution's vice-principal Zeenatun Nesa has also been relieved of her duty as her comments on the issue upset the guardians.
After agitation and siege to the school since Saturday morning, the institution's Trustee Board member M Tamim made the announcement to placate the guardians.
Tamim also announced formation of an enquiry committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment and he promised punishment for those found guilty.
Guardians erupted in furious protests after reports of sexual harassment of a minor girl in an under-construction portion of the institution surfaced on May 5.
Though the school authorities announced a probe committee to investigate the allegations, guardians were not satisfied.
Alleging that Principal Belayet Hossain was trying to hush up the incident, the guardians gathered in front of the school on Saturday afternoon and started to demonstrate.
Principal Hossain told them that employee 'Gopal', accused of sexually harassing the minor girl student, had been suspended along with another employee Shariful Islam who had allegedly roughed up a guardian.
He said all those guilty would be punished after the report of the three-member probe committee was available.
The guardians told the principal that though the probe committee had been asked to submit its report within three days, that had not happened.
The guardians were also upset with Vice Principal Zeenatun Nesa for having allegedly told the police that a section of the guardians were trying to ruin the reputation of the institution.
Some guardians assaulted the principal when he was returning to his office.
He sought refuge in the vice-principal's office but angry guardians smashed window glasses there.
Ward councillor Habibur Rahman Mizan and few other local influential people tried to control the situation and the police intervened.
It is then that Trustee Board member Tamim announced the decision to take the male employees off work and also asked Vice-Principal Zeenatun Nesa to stand down.
That appeared to placate the guardians and the situation could be brought under control.
Tamim also said CCTV cameras were installed across the school's premises.
Already, women employees have started to replace the male employees relieved from work.
A writ petition was filed with the High Court over the incident and it might come up for hearing on today (Sunday).
