Barisal University students face disciplinary writing task over misspelled professor name
Photo Collected
A disciplinary measure at Barisal University has ignited a heated debate over academic standards and faculty conduct after an assistant professor ordered 32 students to write her name 300 times each as punishment for spelling it incorrectly on an assignment.
The incident occurred within the Finance and Banking department, where Assistant Professor Mariam Hasna issued the directive on July 29 after discovering that more than half of the 58 students in the class had misspelled her name. The controversy reached a boiling point when a third-year student, Saidul Islam, posted a photograph of his completed task on Facebook. Islam noted that he was forced to endure the repetitive exercise because he had included one extra letter in the professor’s name.
The social media post prompted a wave of criticism from current and former students, many of whom characterized the punishment as a form of mental harassment and “ragging.” Former students of the department echoed these sentiments, alleging that such punitive practices are not uncommon in their academic environment.
In a statement posted to her personal Facebook page on Friday night, Professor Hasna defended her actions as a pedagogical tool. She argued that precision is a critical skill in the digital age, where a single character error can derail complex processes. She maintained that the assignment was intended to instill a sense of responsibility in students regarding formal documentation, stating that she viewed the task as a necessary lesson in professional rigor.
The backlash, however, has taken a personal toll on the educator. Professor Hasna reported that since the incident went viral, her personal life has been disrupted by anonymous phone calls and the unauthorized use of her image on various social media platforms. She expressed regret that, despite her efforts to prepare students for high-level careers, the episode highlighted a perceived failure in teaching students the importance of accountability.
University Proctor Md. Mehedi Hasan stated that the administration has not received any formal complaints regarding the matter. He noted that while the university does not typically initiate investigations based solely on social media activity, officials remain open to reviewing the case should an official grievance be filed by the affected students.
0%
0%
0%
0%
