Ragging will mean expulsion and legal action, warns Naogaon University vice-chancellor

Students involved in ragging will face expulsion and other action under the rules, Naogaon University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Hasanat Ali has said. If necessary, cases will be filed and action taken through the courts, he warned.

He was speaking on Sunday (8 November) at noon at the first-semester course completion ceremony for students of the university's law and accounting departments.

The vice-chancellor said seniors may treat juniors to ice cream, share cake with them and befriend them. But no ragging is allowed in the name of teaching manners, he said, adding that no junior will be allowed to fall victim to ragging.

Stating that Naogaon University will follow a zero-tolerance policy on ragging, Professor Dr Mohammad Hasanat Ali said, "We want to build a quality university. We want to build a new model university that will show universities across the country that we have created a field for meritorious students."

There is a digital library here for research, he said, and his colleagues are there too. He said he would request them to keep research activities going, and that the university would extend whatever support is needed.

The vice-chancellor said the people of Naogaon have placed their trust in the university, and the second task now is to honour that trust. To achieve it, land acquisition, land development, construction of a boundary wall and work on five unique buildings must begin by 2027, he said.

He said that for the first time in Bangladesh's 54-year budget history, this government has given the highest allocation to education, showing that it understands the importance of the sector. A DPP has been submitted on behalf of the university, and he expressed hope that the government would approve the project quickly so the dreams of Naogaon University and the people of Naogaon can be fulfilled.

The vice-chancellor also spoke of initiatives to put the university's research-based innovations to use. He said he has faith in the prime minister, because whenever they meet, she asks after the university.

Syndicate member and distinguished son of Bogura Mir Shah-e-Alam keeps in regular touch so that Naogaon can be turned into a good-quality university, he said. The UGC and the ministry also often say, go to Naogaon and see how the work is progressing.

The vice-chancellor said he is grateful to Allah that they are moving forward little by little in fulfilling the promises made to the people of Naogaon. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Tariqul Islam, Kahaloo Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Maliha Khanam of Bogura, accounting lecturer Sanjida Kabir, law lecturer Zahidul Islam Sourav and students also shared their feelings at the ceremony.