20 JU students fined Tk6.1 lakh over ragging of juniors

Jahangirnagar University (JU) has fined 20 students a total of Tk6.1 lakh for ragging and physically and mentally harassing junior students, rejecting subsequent attempts to withdraw the complaints following settlements between the accused and victims.

The students will also be barred from sitting for ongoing, term-final or subsequent scheduled examinations until they pay the fines, according to two separate office orders issued today (16 September).

Acting Registrar Dr ABM Azizur Rahman said the allegations were investigated before the university's Discipline Board recommended the punishments, which were later approved by the syndicate.

"The students who have been punished will, however, have the opportunity to appeal the order," he said.

Of the 20 students, 12 from the History Department were fined a total of Tk2.5 lakh over a 3 July incident involving 13 junior students from the department's 55th batch.

According to the investigation, students from the 54th batch allegedly subjected the juniors to verbal abuse, forced them to hold their ears and made them perform various acts in the name of teaching them "manners".

Following an investigation by the university's Anti-Ragging Committee, one student was fined Tk30,000, while the remaining 11 were fined Tk20,000 each.

In a separate case, eight students from the Physics Department were fined a total of Tk3.6 lakh over an incident on 20 July.

The investigation found that junior students from the department's 55th batch were subjected to verbal abuse, forced to perform sit-ups while holding their ears and subjected to other forms of inhumane harassment.

Four students were fined Tk50,000 each, two were fined Tk45,000 each, one Tk40,000 and another Tk35,000.

Assistant Proctor Dr Abdus Sattar Joy said the university's disciplinary rules allow fines ranging from Tk5,000 upwards, with the amount determined based on the severity of the offence.

"The investigation committee recommended financial penalties directly, considering the severity of the offences, and the syndicate upheld them," he said.

He said the penalties were also intended to make students' parents aware of their children's conduct.

"The nature of the ragging in the Physics Department was extremely serious. The accused created a frightening environment without paying heed to the administration," Joy said.

He said this was why the fines in that case were set as high as Tk50,000.

Following the investigations, attempts were made to settle the disputes between the senior and junior students through compensation. The victims were also asked to submit applications seeking withdrawal of their complaints.

However, both the investigation committee and the syndicate rejected the requests.

"After teachers conduct a lengthy investigation and prepare a formal report, withdrawing a complaint by saying that a settlement has been reached is not acceptable," Joy said.

He added that the administration was also concerned that victims might have been subjected to psychological pressure or intimidation.

The penalties were imposed under Section 3(2)(d) of the University Ordinance on Discipline for Students, 2018.

The university warned that repeat offences would be treated as further disciplinary violations and could result in harsher punishment.