The administration of Khulna University (KU) has adopted a strict stance against drug abuse and ragging. The university authorities have imposed disciplinary measures—ranging from expulsion to fines—on 30 students for their involvement in ragging, drug consumption, physical assault, and harassment. Among them, 10 students have been expelled for periods ranging from one to two academic terms. Others have been penalized with fines and required to submit a written undertaking (bond) signed by their guardians.

Khulna University (KU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim confirmed the matter on Sunday afternoon (November 1). These decisions were reached during the 28th meeting of the university’s Disciplinary Board, held at 4:00 PM on Tuesday (October 28), following a review of reports submitted by the relevant investigation committees. The details were subsequently announced in a notification issued on Wednesday, signed by Professor Dr. Md. Salauddin, the Director of Student Affairs and Member-Secretary of the Disciplinary Board.

According to university sources, several students were expelled or fined in connection with incidents of ragging and harassment. Additionally, one student was expelled, and others were fined for the physical assault of a peer, while three students were expelled and fined for drug consumption. As per the notification, Md. Fardin Ahmed Dipon (from the Forestry and Wood Technology discipline), along with Sheikh Amir Mahdwin and Sheikh Mursalin Rahman (from the Development Studies discipline), were each fined 20,000 BDT for their involvement in the harassment of six students at the university cafeteria premises on July 29 of last year.

Furthermore, on May 6 of this year, 12 students from the 26th batch of the Forestry and Wood Technology discipline were subjected to ragging by students from the 25th batch of the same discipline. In connection with this incident, Pronoy Kumar Ghosh was expelled for the next two academic terms and fined 15,000 BDT, while Md. Zubayer Hossain was expelled for the next academic term and fined 5,000 BDT. Additionally, Asim Das, Toufiq Mahinul Ahsan, and Abdullah Al Sifat have each been fined 15,000 taka, while Swapan Kumar Dash, Debashish Mondal, and Sajal Pal have each been fined 5,000 taka.

It is alleged that on May 12, Md. Amanullah Aman, a student from the 24th batch of the Law discipline, was indiscriminately beaten by approximately 25 students from the Forestry and Wood Technology (FWT) discipline. In connection with this incident, Bishwajit Chakraborty has been expelled for the next two terms. For the same incident, Sudip Kumar Nandi, Mahmudur Rahman, Hemendra Mridha, Asif Adnan, Azizil Islam Kaffi, Sheikh Tajbid Islam, Rakib Hossain, and Pronoy Kumar Ghosh have each been fined 20,000 taka.

It is alleged that on August 14, between 9:00 PM and midnight, several students from the 25th batch of the Development Studies discipline compelled students from the 26th batch to appear at a private residence on Nayan Road, near Hall Road. In this incident, Mushfiqul Haque Mahid has been expelled for the next two terms and fined 15,000 taka; Md. Maruf Sarwar has been expelled for the next term and fined 15,000 taka; and Md. Mission Rahman and Md. Khairul Islam have each been expelled for the next term and fined 10,000 taka. Furthermore, Saidis Salehin Swapnil, Rittik Karmakar, Sourav Chandra Barman, and Ragib Shahriar have each been fined 25,000 taka.

Separately, on the evening of September 30, during a routine patrol by the university’s assistant directors of student affairs, three students from the Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) discipline were apprehended on the second floor of the under-construction Academic Building No. 4 with cannabis in their possession. In connection with this incident, S M Taufiq Alam has been suspended for the next two terms and fined 20,000 taka; Mushfiq Ul Islam has been suspended for the next term and fined 10,000 taka; and Kazi Riyajus Chholehin has been suspended for the next term and fined 15,000 taka.