Exclusive: Unmasking the Bangladesh Racket: Rampant Ragging Plagues NIT Silchar

An investigation conducted by a committee formed at the National Institute of Technology, Silchar (NIT Silchar), has revealed a shocking tale of over 45 students enduring relentless ragging, physical and mental abuse. The alleged tormentor, Mohammad Mirajul Islam Sayem, a fourth-year student at NIT Silchar, operated with impunity for years, aided by his cohorts Eftakhar Ahmed Emon and Md. Jubair Mahmud Protim.

Who is this enigmatic figure capable of tormenting students for so long without repercussions in one of India’s most prestigious institutions? Sayem is a student from Bangladesh who secured admission to NIT Silchar through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scheme, bypassing the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) with a simple letter of intent to the High Commission. Many International students have described this selection process as murky at best and fraudulent at worst.

Md. Mirajul Sayem joined NIT Silchar during the COVID pandemic, hailing from a family with connections to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). According to NIT Silchar’s website, there are currently 109 international students, including Sayem, from countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The 47 students who have bravely spoken out against him are mostly from this diverse international group.

Md. Sayem emerged as a popular figure among the students, especially the International ones, almost immediately after he joined. What helped him is that he was joined by around 30 other foreign students and most of them happened to be his fellow Bangladeshi Citizens. Previous batches had 10 – 12, not beyond. His batch could overpower the cumulative foreign representation. He ousted his senior to become the Foreign Student Representative – Gymkhana Position. He then went on to donate a hefty sum of money to help build a local mosque. While he describes this as a divine deed, his fellow students call it a shot at power. “He is often drunk and proper investigation will reveal he regularly smokes up (smokes weed). No true follower of Islam commits such sin,” says another student who follows the same faith.

Part 1: Ragging

Now, let’s delve into the first part of this investigative series – the deeply troubling issue of ragging.

On October 11, 2023, Dr. Pranjit Barman, the Dean of Students’ Welfare, directed the Disciplinary Committee to investigate anonymous allegations against Mohammad Mirajul Islam Sayem. This prompted a committee of professors to investigate, which ultimately exposed the inadequacies of the anti-ragging measures in place. One student reported an incident on August 25, 2023, where Sayem forced him into having sex with the door of a hostel room, illustrating the gravity of the problem.

Another student revealed that between July 2022 and December 2022, Sayem subjected first-year students to degrading punishments, such as standing on one leg and enduring physical abuse. Shockingly, even female students were not spared. Sayem allegedly orchestrated an “unofficial meeting” on September 12, 2023, at Gymkhana Park, where he verbally abused and threatened three girls, causing them severe mental distress.

What emboldened him and his followers? Some students claimed that Sayem asserted he had official permission to engage in ragging from the Deans and professors, even displaying pictures with these figures to substantiate his claims. He was influential not just academically but had the means to escape accountability for his actions.

Sayem’s ragging methods included forcing juniors to perform push-ups, punishing those who talked to female friends, counting lights during Diwali, locking students in their rooms during festivals, and subjecting them to torture on the eve of exams. Shockingly, this persisted for two years, with the administration seemingly turning a blind eye. Sayem was even involved in a violent incident against mess workers, resulting in the suspension of numerous students, while he received only a reprimand. Eftakhar Ahmed Emon, a hostel prefect, and Md. Jubair Mahmud Protim, some research scholars of Indian origins, and senior students of Indian origin frequently joined him and participated in these acts, according to the statements of the students.

This recent investigation uncovers not only the harrowing experiences faced by students but also the administrative oversight that allowed such abuses to fester.

The question remains: Can an individual at NIT Silchar wield such unchecked influence without powerful connections? The forthcoming Part II of our series, “Influence,” to be published on Monday, October 16, will delve into Sayem’s network of power, his ability to manipulate exam results, evade police investigations, and his connections with teaching and non-teaching staff. Stay tuned for more revelations.

By: Anirban