The administration of Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) has expelled one student for two years and six students for one year from academic activities over a ragging incident involving freshers of the Pharmacy department on 21 July this year.
In addition, monetary fines were imposed on two students.
The decision was taken at the 77th Regent Board meeting of the university on 9 October (Friday). Dr Kamruzzaman Khan, university proctor and member secretary of the investigation committee formed over the ragging incident, confirmed the information.
According to sources, during the ragging of Pharmacy department freshers on 21 July, Mushfiqur Rahman Tuhin, a fresher of the 2025–26 academic session, fell ill and was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in an emergency condition.
Following the incident, the university administration formed a three-member investigation committee.
Based on the report of the investigation committee and recommendations of the Discipline Board, decision number 77.20 of the 77th Regent Board meeting penalised a total of nine students with expulsion and fines of varying terms.
The meeting also decided that the punished students must submit an undertaking to the authorities along with their parents within seven working days.
Among the expelled students, Md Najmus Sakib of the 2024–25 academic session of the Pharmacy department was expelled for two years.
Six other students were expelled for one year: Jahid Hossain Sarkar of the 2023–24 academic session, and Mishkat Jahan Mushfiq, Yunus Hossain Hirat, Saidur Rahman Sifat, and Sanowar Hossain Tanim of the 2024–25 academic session, all from the Pharmacy department, as well as Ishtiaq Ahmed Ifti of the 2024–25 academic session from the Physics department.
Meanwhile, Tamanna Tazmim Tonni, a student of the 2024–25 academic session of the Pharmacy department, was fined Tk10,000, while Sohanur Rahman Sifat of the same session and department was fined Tk5,000, although initial administrative records also noted a fine of Tk10,000 each for two students.
According to allegations, senior students of the Pharmacy department called freshers to a mess in the Bangla Clinic area on 21 July and ragged them. At one point, due to mental pressure, fresher Mushfiqur Rahman Tuhin fell ill.
He was taken to Pabna Sadar Hospital at around 8:00 pm, where he received primary treatment, and was later sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital at around 11:00 pm for advanced treatment.
Regarding the matter, Bijon Kumar Brahma, university registrar, said he saw news on social media, but no official documents regarding the issue have reached him yet. When contacted on his mobile phone, Dr Abul Hasnat Moha.
Shamim, a professor at the university, did not answer the call, but informed via a text message that he was in a meeting.
