Islamic University expels 27 students over ragging, discipline breaches and sexual harassment

Twenty-seven students of Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia have been expelled for various terms over ragging, breaches of discipline and sexual harassment. Among them are 26 students from two departments over ragging and discipline breaches, and one more student over a sexual harassment allegation. Four students have also been warned over the same incidents.

The punitive decisions were taken at the university's 275th syndicate meeting, held on 1 November. Acting Registrar Professor Dr Atikur Rahman confirmed the matter on Saturday (14 November).

Of the 26 expelled students, 17 are from the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Action was taken against them over the ragging of new students of the 2025-26 academic session. Among them, Sani Nehali and Sanaul Karim have been expelled for two years. The other 15 students are Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Arif Hossain, Syed Siam Al Nahian, Sabira Wasimat Sara, Syed Sajjad Hossain Rohan, Shahriar Zubayer Fahim, Sadman Sakib Irfan, Pritom Kumar Sarkar, Riyad Hasan, Hazbut Jahan Hasib, Sabbir Ahmed, N. R. Nirjhara, Faiza Zaman Purba, Mehedi Hasan and Mahathir Jisan; each of them has been expelled.

In the Department of Public Administration, nine more students have been expelled over the beating of a student of the department and a demand for money. Among them, Al Najib Mahi, Kaiyum Mostafa, Mohammad Abdul Kaiyum, Tariq Zaman Raj and Mofazzal Hossain Barkat have been expelled permanently. Mujahidul Islam Mim, Sayem Hafiz Siam, Abdul Fattah Akib and Nabi Hossain Shuvo have been expelled for one year. Four more students of the department have been warned over the same incident.

Separately, Jihadul Karim, a student of the 2019-20 session of the Department of Management, has been temporarily expelled for two semesters of his master's over a sexual harassment allegation.

In the Tourism and Hospitality Management case, the expelled students were accused of detaining new students for long periods in the name of teaching them manners, mental torture, forcing them to do humiliating tasks and keeping them on campus until late at night. Victims also alleged that a female student was threatened with rape.

About 16 students filed written complaints over these incidents. Alongside a departmental inquiry, a four-member investigation committee was formed at a meeting of the university's Anti-Ragging Vigilance Committee. Based on the investigation committee's recommendation, the 275th syndicate meeting decided to expel the 17 accused students.

In the Public Administration case, students of the 2024-25 session were accused of interfering in classrooms in the name of teaching seniors manners, excluding them from Messenger groups and depriving them of academic information, demanding Tk 25,000, and beating. After a departmental inquiry into these allegations, expulsion and warnings were recommended for ragging and breaches of discipline; the syndicate meeting then decided the matter.

In the sexual harassment case, a female student alleged against Jihadul Karim: establishing a physical relationship with a promise of marriage, recording objectionable videos and blackmailing, extracting financial benefits, booking hotels using a fake identity card, and forcing an abortion. Based on the recommendation of the committee formed to investigate the allegation, the 275th syndicate meeting decided to temporarily expel Jihadul Karim for two semesters.

Acting Registrar Professor Dr Atikur Rahman said the decisions were taken at the university's 275th syndicate meeting, and that the decisions will be sent to those concerned in the form of letters.