Ragging at Dinajpur HSTU: 4 students leave campus in 4 years

In the past four years, four students of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur were compelled to leave the institution due to ragging.

Not only were the students physically assaulted by the seniors but the victims also experienced severe mental trauma following the incidents.

Riyad Hasan, a student at the department of architecture, left the university on February 7 this year after submitting a written complaint to the university administration in this regard.

Before that, three other students left the institution in the last three consecutive years after being bullied by senior students of the institution.

Sanaullah, a student at the department of fisheries, left the campus in 2022, Shahriar of agricultural and industrial engineering department left in 2021, and Fakir Alamgir Siam left his studies at the department of mechanical engineering in 2020.

According to the victim students, ragging is a culture that is maintained and handed down from the students of one batch to the other. Victims say the vicious cycle of 'ragging culture' is prevalent as those who silently tolerate the torture eventually become vengeful and start seeking power themselves. The one who were tortured as juniors eventually become seniors who then dole out the same behaviour to their juniors.

"I was in a mess near the campus when I was summoned by the seniors of the department. They called around 10 freshers, made us stand in a queue, and then started to criticise us. After a while, they started abusing us verbally. Then they started torturing us both mentally and physically," said Sanaullah who cancelled his admission to HSTU and was later admitted to a private medical college in Dhaka.

Siam, another victim of ragging at the institution, said "The torture lasted for hours. While the seniors were busy having their daily dose of 'fun', their actions gave me nightmares."

"I still miss the HSTU campus and my friends but the thought of returning gives me chills to this day," added Siam who also left the university and is currently pursuing his academics at a different academic institution.

Riyad's father Mofizul Islam was shocked by his son's experience at HSTU.

"If you do not salute the seniors, they will beat you -- this kind of behaviour is absurd. We send our children to study but such acts of 'terrorism', that too in a public university, is unacceptable," Mofizul said.

Asked if he would send his son back to the university, Riyad's father said, "I will only send him back if the university authorities and teachers assure me that such incidents will not be repeated."

The university proctor and chairman has already reached out to Riyad and assured him that they will take necessary steps.

Abu Taiyab Mohammad Shahriar, the chairman of the department of architecture at the university, said a four-member committee has been formed to probe Riyad's incident.

"We never want a student to leave the institution like this. I called Riyad and assured him that I will look into the issue. We will analyse all the details and make sure our students are safe," he said.

Prof Mamunur Rashid, the proctor of the university, said the university authorities have been patrolling the adjacent messes to curb this culture of ragging.

"In the university law, there is a provision of expelling the accused if the allegation of ragging against them is proven. We have set up a committee to investigate the matter and will take necessary steps as soon as the probe committee submits their report," he said.

The High Court on January 12, 2020, directed the government to form anti-ragging committees and squads at all educational institutions, especially at universities and their affiliated colleges, within the next three months, following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Ishrat Hasan.

Ishrat informed the final verdict for this petition has not been issued by the court yet.

"Considering the number of pending cases across the country, it has been difficult to get a date for this hearing," she said.

Asked about the necessary steps the university authorities ought to take against ragging, Ishrat said, "Physical and mental torture is a criminal offence and just expelling the students who get caught for ragging is not enough. Proper legal action is necessary against the harassers and for that, the involvement of local police stations is essential."