Rajshahi University (RU) has taken disciplinary action against three teachers and five students following allegations of sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct.

The decisions were approved at the university’s 544th syndicate meeting and took immediate effect, according to a notice issued by the Public Relations Office late Wednesday.

Associate Professor Anik Krishna Karmakar of the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering has been suspended for three years and barred from taking part in any examination-related activities for the next ten years.

He was initially suspended on February 17 this year after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced, prompting the formation of an inquiry committee. The syndicate finalised its decision based on the committee’s report.

Meanwhile, Prof Prabhash Kumar Karmakar of the Statistics Department and Associate Prof Mohammad Hedayet Ullah of the Finance Department have been temporarily suspended.

A further probe body will review their cases before final decisions are made, said Prof Akhtar Hossain Majumdar, administrator of the university’s Public Relations Office.

The action against Prof Prabhash follows student protests on August 13 demanding his expulsion over sexual harassment allegations, after which the university formed an investigation committee on August 17.

Of the five students found guilty, studentship of two has been cancelled, one has been expelled, and two others have been suspended for one year.

The university did not publish their names as the list includes female students, Prof Majumdar added.