IUB, Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka hold seminar on workplace harassment

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka (SICD) jointly organised a seminar on workplace harassment of women on 13 September at the DMK Lecture Gallery of IUB.

The seminar, facilitated by IUB's Career Guidance Placement and Alumni Relations (CGP&AR) office, featured legal, institutional and social perspectives through expert presentations, survivor testimonies and a panel discussion.

The event began with a welcome speech by Yasmin Rahman, President of SICD and Chairman of Paragon Group.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Daniel W. Lund, Pro-Vice Chancellor of IUB, said, "We are honored to host this event with the Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka. We wish you all the best, and we hope to learn as much as we can to make positive changes happen in our workplaces."

Faculty, staff, management and students of IUB took part in the seminar, alongside representatives from Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), Naripokkho, Foundation for Law & Development (FLAD), and Dr. Arifa Rahman from the University of Dhaka.

Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid, said, "Harassment is not just an individual instance, it is a structural issue rooted in power imbalance and gender norms. Women's participation in workplaces cannot be meaningful without safety and dignity. The guidelines from the Supreme Court remain one of the strongest tools but implementation is failing. Employer's responsibility is a legal and moral responsibility, not optional."

She added that women make up 51 percent of the population and called for stronger laws, effective monitoring and survivor-focused complaint mechanisms.

Taqbir Huda, Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Fellow of Tech Global Institute, said, "We need to take a different approach; we should be introspective, we should not look at sexual harassment law in isolation. But what it tells about the story of Bangladesh, tells about the criminal justice system of Bangladesh and donor politics in Bangladesh and the power dynamics in Bangladesh. Because introspection can lead to change and possible sustainable development."

BOMSA presented the testimony of Hafeza, while RMMRU introduced Kulsum Begum, who shared her struggles abroad. Their accounts reflected challenges faced by women migrant workers and the impact of workplace abuse.

Fawzia Kabir Firoze, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, said, "Any speech or action with even a touch of a sex element is considered sexual harassment. Previously, the law did not define actions against these offenses which is why we have worked so diligently over the years to define and determine what is sexual harassment and what falls under its purview."

She added, "Since it [harassment] can be harder to define in academic or workplace environments, we have decided to break these down and bring them to the people. Because defining something is one thing, but ensuring sound implementation of the law is a whole other challenge."

Dr. Shamim Matin Chowdhury, Past President of SICD, said, "There are various kinds of harassment – verbal harassment being a lowkey harassment that is really hard for people to detect. Sexual harassment encompasses any type of comment, physical gesture or advance on either or both men and women. Even a meaningful look is also considered sexual harassment."

She explained that harassment can cause trauma and physical health issues, emphasising the importance of resilience and moral values in addressing it.

The seminar concluded with a question-and-answer session and lunch for invited guests. Hosting the programme, Yasmin Rahman thanked participants and called for greater awareness to combat harassment.

The Soroptimist movement in Bangladesh began in 1981. The Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka was officially chartered on 5 January 1983 with Anjumanara Begum as its founding president. Since then, the clubs have worked on women's education, health and nutrition, legal awareness and community development.