In higher education in the country, 76 percent of female students are sexually harassed in one way or another during their university life. Public universities are comparatively more unsafe for female students. This information was brought up in a discussion meeting titled 'Directions of the High Court on Sexual Harassment: Current Status and Actions for Implementation' organized by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) at Sirdap Auditorium in the capital on Sunday.

In the original article, Tahmina Rahman, an expert on freedom of speech and a member of the board of trustees of Blast, said that 76 percent of public universities, 66 percent of private universities and 54 percent of female students were victims of sexual harassment in medical colleges. Apart from this, 74 percent of female students were subjected to physical and mental abuse, harassment and ridicule by senior classmates and teachers in educational institutions.

In the President's speech, Advocate ZI Khan Panna said that the party should go beyond nepotism and deal with sexual harassment. In this case, the violence of politically motivated recruitment in educational institutions should be reduced.

Member of the University Grants Commission and the National Human Rights Commission. Biswajit Chand said, despite the clear directives of the High Court to address sexual harassment in educational institutions and workplaces, there is lack of awareness, lack of accountability and monitoring of the authorities.

Director of Center for Advanced Legal Studies and Professor of Law Department of Dhaka University. Shahnaz Huda stressed on the proper implementation of the existing laws by bringing necessary amendments.

Advocate Ainunahar Siddika, the panel discussant Supreme Court lawyer, said that although 15 years have passed since the High Court's 11-point clear directive on sexual harassment in educational institutions and workplaces, it has not yet been properly implemented. The main reasons are lack of public awareness, inadequate publicity, lack of accountability and monitoring of the guidelines.