Female medical students in Barishal face 'ragging', journos on-duty harassed
Journalists attempting to cover the story were assaulted, further escalating the situation
Two female students at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barisal (SBMC) allegedly fell victim to ragging, highlighting the prevailing issue of bullying within educational institutions.
Moreover, journalists attempting to cover the story were assaulted, further escalating the situation, according to sources and media reports.
The incident unfolded when two female students were summoned to a room in the college dormitory and were harassed during the late hours of Thursday (24 August).
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They were subjected to prolonged standing, verbal abuse, and threats, and had their personal belongings, including her phone, forcibly examined.
Later, as one of the student's condition deteriorated to the point of unconsciousness, she was admitted to the emergency department of SBMC hospital, according to the sources.
The college's academic council responded to the issue, recording statements from the victims on Saturday (26 August).
During this time, a group of teachers attacked journalists when they tried to talk to the affected student and her mother, leading to the vandalism of a Channel 24 camera.
SBMC Vice-Principal Nazimul Haque, who was in charge of investigating the alleged ragging, said the incident involving the journalists was "unexpected" and assured that efforts were being made to resolve the situation.
"It was a minor incident, nothing serious. But we are looking into it," he added.
The complaints said they were harassed by two students who identify themselves as Chhatra League leaders.
The student, who had fallen ill due to the traumatic experience, claimed that she and her roommate had been subjected to abuse and intimidation.
The mother of the student said, "My daughter was summoned to a room and tortured in the name of ragging on two separate occasions in a single night. As a consequence, she fell ill. I am seeking justice for this incident, with the hope that no other student will have to endure such a traumatic experience."
Kawsar Hossain Rana, the bureau chief of Channel 24 who was assaulted, said, "Our purpose of visiting the college was to gather news. During the course of performing our duties, the principal and two teachers assaulted us. In the process, our camera and tripod were vandalised."
