Senior RU students accused of ragging, assaulting juniors, issuing death threats

First-year students of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Rajshahi University (RU) have alleged that a group of senior students subjected them to ragging, mental and physical assault, and even issued death threats.

On Sunday afternoon, 10 students submitted a written complaint to the university’s proctor office.

The accused include Tanvirul Islam Imon, Aftab Imon, Sajib Rahman, Oli Ahmed, Riyow Khan, Tasibul Fahad, Mahfuzul Islam Nayon, and Farhad Reza Imon from the 2023-24 session; Nafiul Islam Anik from the 2021-22 session; and their classmate Nomayet Islam Maruf.

According to the complaint, the victims were regularly summoned to the Binodpur area, where they were forced to repeatedly introduce themselves, recite distorted poems and songs, show personal conversations on their phones, endure verbal abuse, and face threats of assault.

The perpetrators even allegedly made derogatory remarks about their families.

The complaint further said that failure to respond to seniors’ calls led to threats, and restrictions were imposed on their use of social media.

Referring to a protest last November demanding the removal of a teacher, the complainants said they were forced to participate, and their entire batch was threatened with boycott if they remained neutral.

On Saturday, one student was allegedly assaulted after being called to Binodpur. When the student did not show up later, they were issued death threats, read the complaint.

On Sunday, the victims were summoned to campus through a “false notice” and forced to apologise, with threats of being boycotted from the department if they refused, it added.

The accused students denied the allegations. “I am not aware of any incident of ragging,” said Nafiul.

Another accused, Tasibul, claimed, “Both juniors and seniors sat together. There was no ragging. We only met to discuss arrangements for the freshers' reception.”

Attempts to contact the department’s chairman, Prof Majedul Islam, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.

Contacted, RU Proctor Prof Mahbubur Rahman said, “We have taken the complaint into consideration. If the allegations are proven, appropriate action will be taken based on the nature and severity of the incident.”