13 Students Punished Over Ragging Incident at PSTU, 2 Expelled from Hall

Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) administration has taken disciplinary action against 13 students over a ragging incident at Bijoy-24 Hall. Of them, two students have been fined Tk 20,000 each and expelled from the hall for one year. Seven students have been fined Tk 10,000 each, while three others have been fined Tk 5,000 each. Another student has been ordered to submit a written undertaking in the presence of his guardian.

The information was disclosed in an office order issued by the university's Registrar's Office on August 24 (Monday). According to the office order, on the night of August 12, several students of the second semester (2024–25 academic session) at Bijoy-24 Hall were allegedly involved in ragging newly admitted first-semester students (2025–26 academic session) through physical and mental harassment. After reviewing the report submitted by the investigation committee formed to investigate the incident, the university's 43rd meeting of the Disciplinary Board, held on August 24, decided to take disciplinary action against the accused students.

Among those punished, Priyam Kumar Saha of the Faculty of ESADM and Md. Asif Jahan of the Faculty of Agriculture were found guilty of planning and leading the ragging, carrying it out, actively participating in it, and subjecting students to physical and mental harassment. Each of them was fined Tk 20,000 and expelled from the hall for one year.

In addition, Toufiq Hossain Alif and Monuim Tajwar Mahi of the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Md. Ashraful Haque Chowdhury, Md. Sakib Hossain Majumdar, Md. Muminul Islam (Sakib), and Utsh Barman of the Faculty of CSE, and Md. Nahim were each fined Tk 10,000 for actively participating in the ragging and subjecting students to physical and mental harassment. Meanwhile, Mohammad Mujahidul Islam, Jobayer Ahmed Limon, and Md. Rajib Mia of the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science were each fined Tk 5,000 for participating in the ragging and subjecting students to physical and mental harassment.

On the other hand, Lakkhan Chandra Ray, also from the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, was ordered to submit a written undertaking at the Provost's Office in the presence of his guardian for his involvement in the ragging. He was also warned that if his involvement in any activity violating university discipline is established in the future, he will be permanently expelled from the university. The office order further stated that, in addition to the fines, the punished students must submit written undertakings at the Provost's Office in the presence of their guardians. If they violate the stipulated conditions, they may face expulsion for one to three semesters. Furthermore, if their involvement in any activity violating university discipline is established in the future, they may face severe punishment, including permanent expulsion from the university.

The two students expelled from the hall have been instructed not to remain on the campus or in the hall during their punishment period. They have also been directed to deposit the prescribed fines within 15 working days of the issuance of the office order.

Professor Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman, Provost of Bijoy-24 Hall, said, "Based on the decision of the university's Disciplinary Board and the report of the investigation committee, those involved in the ragging incident are being identified and brought under disciplinary action. The main objective of taking action against those involved in such incidents is to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future."

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Hemayet Jahan said, "From the very beginning of the new administration, we have set the goal of developing the university into a student-friendly institution and taking the quality and standard of education to an international level. At the same time, during the hall and university orientations for newly admitted students, the administration clearly communicated its 'zero tolerance' policy toward ragging. Despite this, some students became involved in this harmful practice, and the administration has taken the matter seriously."

He further said, "The university will never tolerate ragging or any such harmful practice. Therefore, based on the report of the investigation committee, disciplinary measures have been taken against the students involved in phases. Along with the punishments, the accused students have also been instructed to submit written undertakings in the presence of their guardians. If such incidents recur in the future, stricter disciplinary action will be taken against those involved."