PSTU students confine VC and 50 teachers over ragging suspensions

Students of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) yesterday confined the university's vice-chancellor and around 50 teachers to the university's administrative building, demanding that the suspensions of 15 students for ragging be reversed.

The VC and the teachers were still confined as of filing this report last night, Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Dumki Police Station, told our Patuakhali correspondent.

Over 300 third-semester students at PTSU yesterday started a demonstration in front of the university's administrative building at 10:30am over the suspensions.

Later in the evening, the students confined VC Professor Dr Md Harun-Or-Rashid and 50 teachers inside the administrative building by padlocking it, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

"We will continue our demonstrations until those who have been suspended without any proof of their involvement in ragging are allowed to return to class," Jishan, one of the protestors, told The Daily Star.

"We are trying to resolve the matter by holding discussions with the protesting students," said PSTU Registrar Prof Dr Swadesh Chandra Samanta.

Earlier, on January 23, 15 students were suspended by the university authorities for their involvement in ragging, according to a university notice signed by Registrar Swadesh Chandra Samanta.