IU proctor leads anti-drug drive with lit cigarette in hand

A video of an anti-drug drive conducted by the proctorial body of Islami University has gone viral on Facebook, showing university Proctor Professor Dr Shahinuzzaman leading the operation with a lit cigarette in his hand.

The anti-drug drive was conducted on Friday (September 4) at around 7:30pm inside the university campus. University journalists and officials from the security cell accompanied the proctor during the operation.

The team conducted raids at Diana Chattar, Jhal Chattar, areas around several academic buildings, a corner of the central cricket ground, the guava garden, the female students’ residential hall area and the university lake.

Later, a Facebook page associated with Islami University published a video of the operation. The footage shows members of the proctorial body conducting searches and questioning students at different locations, while Proctor Professor Dr Shahinuzzaman is seen leading the operation with a lit cigarette in his hand.

The video drew criticism from teachers and students who expressed concern over the proctor being seen smoking while leading an anti-drug campaign.

An unnamed student said, “What message will students receive when a proctor is openly conducting an anti-drug drive with a cigarette in his hand? If a person leading an anti-drug campaign carries a substance comparable to a drug, I do not see the logic behind the campaign. Teachers should refrain from smoking in public.”

Another student sarcastically criticised the incident, saying, “The campaign was truly a sight to behold. He understood the importance of the anti-drug drive so deeply that he took to the field with a cigarette already lit in his hand. There has to be a fire somewhere, whether at the end of a cigarette or in a campaign against drugs. But after seeing the proctor’s smoke-filled campaign, I could not understand whether he had come to rid the campus of drugs or was simply looking for an environmentally friendly and safe place to smoke.”

No drugs found during raid

Asked about the outcome of the operation, university security officer Mizanur Rahman said the raid was conducted on the proctor’s instructions as part of their regular activities.

“We conducted the operation last night on the instructions of the proctor as part of our regular activities. No drugs were found during the raid. However, we found four or five couples in different corners of the campus and warned them. The proctor warned them that action would be taken if they were found in such situations again,” he said.

Mizanur Rahman said no drugs were recovered during Friday night’s operation, but such drives would continue.

The Daily Campus made several attempts to contact Islami University Proctor Professor Dr Shahinuzzaman by phone for his comment on the incident, but he did not respond.