RU expels 19 students for a year over ragging, forgery and assault

Rajshahi University (RU) administration has expelled 19 students for a year over allegations of ragging junior students, forging a department chairperson's signature and assaulting a student.

The university has also issued strict warning letters to another 80 students from different departments over ragging allegations and informed their families.

The decisions were taken at the 549th meeting of the university syndicate, its policy-making body, yesterday evening (22 September), based on recommendations from the disciplinary board.

At least three syndicate members and a member of the disciplinary committee confirmed the matter to The Business Standard this afternoon (23 September).

According to the disciplinary board, the university received 17-18 complaints of junior students being subjected to ragging from different departments after classes for the 2025-26 academic year began on 10 May. The board investigated 10 of the complaints.

Following the investigations, the board recommended one-year expulsions for 15 students.

It also recommended a one-year expulsion for another student over the alleged assault of a student named Shaon, from the 2019-20 academic year in the Graphic Design discipline.

In a separate case, three students were recommended for one-year expulsions for allegedly forging the signature of the chairperson of the Public Administration department.

The board also recommended cancelling the residential status of all 19 students and declaring them ineligible for residential facilities in the future.

Besides the 19 students, the disciplinary board recommended that another 80 students be issued strict warning letters and that their families be informed.

A syndicate member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the disciplinary board's recommendations were placed before the syndicate as agenda items, and the meeting decided to implement them.

"As the allegations against the 80 students were less serious, the syndicate decided to issue them warning letters and inform their families," the member said.

The member also said the disciplinary board had investigated the ragging allegations and the decisions were taken based on its recommendations.

"Only students against whom clear evidence was found were punished. Besides the three students accused of forging signatures, another student was expelled for one year over the allegation of assaulting a student," the member added.

Professor Mahbubur Rahman, member-secretary of the disciplinary board and university proctor, said they had received ragging complaints from around 17-18 departments.

"Those against whom clear evidence and serious allegations were found have been recommended for one-year expulsion. Besides, 80 students were asked to submit written undertakings depending on the severity of the allegations. The board also recommended informing their families," he said.

The proctor said students come to the university to study, and ensuring a proper academic environment is important.

"We will not allow the environment to be disrupted in the name of ragging. We will maintain a strong position against ragging," he said.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Faridul Islam said the authorities had imposed both major and minor disciplinary measures based on the allegations and evidence.

"There is no reason to think that we are weak. Ragging has been going on at this university for a long time. We currently have zero tolerance for it. Investigations into some other complaints are also ongoing," he said.