Making indecent remarks, sexual harassment, and other allegations against govt official

A probe was launched into allegations of sexual harassment, threats and other misdemeanours against Mohammad Setaruzzaman, superintendent of the Government Child Development Centre (Girls) in Konabari, Gazipur.

He was later suspended following the allegations. However, he was cleared of the charges at a departmental hearing on the grounds that the allegations were "not proven beyond doubt." At one point, initiatives were taken to reinstate him at that very center.

Mohd. Kamruzzaman recently took charge as the Director (Institution) at the Department of Social Services. He told Prothom Alo that a further investigation will be conducted regarding the allegations raised against Setaruzzaman. He is currently been made an OSD (Officer on Special Duty) at the department.

On 10 November last year, Ayesha Akter, director (joint secretary) of the Dhaka Divisional Social Services Office, inspected the centre following the allegations against Setaruzzaman. She spoke separately with residents and staff. Her inspection report, submitted on 8 December, said six residents described various incidents of sexual harassment involving themselves and others.

According to the report, Superintendent Setaruzzaman used to ask married teenage girls about their sexual relations with their husbands and question why they had not conceived children. It was alleged that he would invite husbands to the center and offer them the opportunity to spend private time with the teenagers. If the girls refused to answer such questions, he allegedly threatened to prevent them from communicating with their husbands.

Several girls accused him of calling them into his room alone on holidays, in the evening or at night and touching various parts of their bodies. One teenager stated that at one point, she was forced to bite Setaruzzaman's hand and escape from the room.

Another teenager's allegation was that the superintendent used to tell her to go to the bathroom and spend five minutes together. There are also allegations of forcing some of them to watch pornographic videos on mobile phones.

Another teenager's allegation was that the superintendent would call her into his room with the false claim that her "parents have arrived." Furthermore, because others were told the reason for their arrival at the center, some residents faced harassment from other residents.

The residents had submitted a written complaint against Setaruzzaman to the Deputy Director on 15 July of last year. That complaint moved through district and divisional offices before reaching the headquarters of the Department of Social Services. However, the inspection report noted that no effective action was taken even after that.

According to the report, after filing complaints against Setaruzzaman, some teenagers were threatened in various ways. There are even allegations that they were told their bail would be blocked.

On 30 October last year, during a gathering at the center, allegations arose that Setaruzzaman threatened the residents once again. Angered by this, the residents attacked him and the furniture in his room was vandalised. Working personnel were forced to take him to another room and lock him in to control the situation.

Ayesha Akhter's report referred to the incident as "an expression of long-standing accumulated grievances" of the residents.

Alongside allegations of sexual harassment against Setaruzzaman, accusations also surfaced that he took money by letting residents talk on mobile phones to their families and attempted to induce an abortion for a pregnant teenager. Multiple teenagers alleged that some guardians brought special food for the superintendent.

By taking bribes and gifts from guardians, he provided extra benefits to some.

The teenagers stated that the superintendent made them talk to their families using his mobile phone in exchange for money and those who could not pay were deprived of this opportunity.

Citing the statements of working personnel, the inspection report stated that Setaruzzaman had tried to mix medicine into food to induce an abortion for a pregnant teenager by taking a bribe from her family.

However, a ministry circular noted that the truth of this allegation was not found during the subsequent departmental hearing.

The inspection report also presented the statements of the working personnel. According to them, Setaruzzaman would call teenagers into single rooms without a case worker, which is a violation of rules. He had even given some guardians permission to bring food from outside. There are also allegations that he permitted residents to sit in his room and eat food.

The report stated that after other residents protested, everyone was permitted to bring food from outside.

Additionally, there are allegations against the superintendent of eating the residents' food portions, putting victim children in contact with the defence party, and calling children into his room through Ansar members.

Some working personnel alleged that Setaruzzaman would also make lewd remarks about sexual relations, marriage, and husbands to them, alongside making inappropriate gestures. There are also complaints of him misbehaving with female staff.

On 8 December last year, the divisional office brought written allegations against Setaruzzaman for misconduct violating government service discipline and criminal offenses. Subsequently, a circular from the Ministry of Social Welfare on 25 January stated that he had engaged in sexually harassing the residents and continued to do so. Alongside the abortion allegations, various other complaints were mentioned, including keeping a teenager at the center for 10 days past her scheduled time even after bail was granted.

The circular, signed by Ministry of Social Welfare Secretary Md. Abu Yusuf under the president's order, further stated that it was decided to take departmental action against him for misconduct and involvement in corruption under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018 (3b and d). He was temporarily suspended. Under the rules, he will only receive a subsistence allowance.

A departmental case was initiated against Setaruzzaman and he was served with the charge sheet and statement of allegations on 26 April. Later, when he applied for a personal hearing, his hearing took place on 1 July.

Another ministry circular on 27 July stated that during the hearing, an accusing resident stated that Setaruzzaman had not tried to feed her any medicine to induce an abortion; rather behaved well with her. However, she mentioned that she had heard about the superintendent's bad behaviour from others. Therefore, the allegation of abortion was not proven.

Although a nurse (outsourced) of the Government Child Development Center was called to the hearing to give a statement regarding the allegations, she did not appear. She was no longer employed at the institution at that time and did not answer her phone either.

The circular stated that this created doubt regarding the truth of the allegations. Therefore, in accordance with the rules, Setaruzzaman was absolved of the charges.

At the same time, the order of temporary suspension was withdrawn, and it was decided that the suspension period would be counted as active service and that arrears of pay and allowances would be provided.

Following the withdrawal of the temporary suspension order, a letter signed by Setaruzzaman on 28 July announced that he had resumed duties at the Child Development Center.

Multiple officials of the Department of Social Services, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that Setaruzzaman had been absolved of the temporary suspension. The process of appointing him back to the same institution has once again created anger among those working in the ministry and the department.

In a letter from the Department of Social Services on 30 October of last year, Mohammad Borhan Uddin had been given additional responsibility as the superintendent of that child development center, including drawing and disbursing authority. He has been discharging the additional responsibility since 31 October.

Borhan Uddin told Prothom Alo over the phone on August 19 that he is discharging additional responsibility at the "sensitive" institution.

Later, in a circular from the Ministry of Social Welfare on August 13, Setaruzzaman was transferred to the Department of Social Services as an Assistant Director (Officer on Special Duty).

Ayesha Akhter, the official who recommended taking action against Setaruzzaman by transferring him elsewhere promptly after her on-site investigation, is not satisfied with the decision of absolution.

Ayesha Akhter told Prothom Alo, "I investigated and submitted a report. Then the higher authority made a decision. What more can I say about this? I have also stated at various times that the decision to absolve him was not justified."

In the inspection report, Ayesha Akhter had recommended transferring Setaruzzaman elsewhere as soon as possible and taking departmental action against him. The appointment of a female officer as the head of this institution operated for girls was also recommended.

Ayesha Akhter noted in the report that Setaruzzaman did not hesitate to body-shame her either. When she visited in person, the residents had informed her of the bad things Setaruzzaman had said about her.

The Development Branch of the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare operates the child development centers. According to the Children Act, 2013, these institutions are run to develop and bring back to normal lives children who are in conflict with the law or come into contact with the law.

The center in Konabari, Gazipur, is exclusively for girls. Established in 2003, teenage girls aged 10 to under 18 years stay at this center. As of the figures from 19 August, there are 117 residents at the center.

Under circumstances such as romantic relationships, secret marriages against family wishes, or insecurity due to family reasons, some teenagers are sent to this center for protection under court orders. Many of the teenagers who arrive here come with difficult life experiences. The responsibility of this institution towards them is supposed to create a safe shelter, protection, and an opportunity to return to normal life.

However, the allegations that surfaced in the inspection report raise questions about that very security system.

Houseparent is an important position at the child development center. The inspection report stated that accusations of sexual harassment were also raised against the person discharging duties in this position, and a departmental case had been filed against him. The position had been vacant since 2020. The report noted that later, by court order, that person was also reinstated at the center.

With accusations of sexual harassment, threats, and irregularities against teenagers surfacing once again at this institution meant to be safe, questions have been raised—how far is the safety of the complaining teenagers ensured at this institution meant for safety?

The inspection report further noted that Setaruzzaman has denied the allegations brought against him. Setaruzzaman stated that when Additional Director Md. Shahidul Islam inspected the center on 28 October last year, a few staff members secretly made allegations against him. Later, colluding with those staff members, the residents attacked him. His claim is that he is the victim of a conspiracy.

Setaruzzaman told Prothom Alo over the phone on August 19 that he is no longer discharging duties at the Child Development Center. Following that, he disconnected the phone call. Later, when asked about the allegations raised against him via WhatsApp, he stated that his mother is seriously ill, after which he gave no further statements.