Exam called off over SUST student death

A student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) was killed in a motorcycle accident on the Sylhet-Sunamganj highway, prompting the university to postpone two examinations scheduled for Sunday.

The deceased, Sadman Rahman, also known as Nabil, was a student of the Department of Physics from the 2025-26 academic session. His family is from Madhya Bhabanipur area of Rajbari district. He lived in a mess in Tilargaon, near the university.

According to university authorities, eyewitnesses and students, the accident occurred around 12:15 AM on Sunday in front of the Topobon residential area near the university.

Sadman was heading towards Madina Market on his motorcycle after spending time with friends near the university’s main gate. On the way, he reportedly hit a road divider or speed breaker and lost control of the motorcycle, suffering a serious head injury.

His classmates and senior students initially took him to a private hospital near the campus. He was later transferred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Following his death, the Department of Physics postponed an examination scheduled for Sunday. Department head Abdul Hannan said the department was deeply saddened by the unexpected death of a student. The examination for the 2021-22 academic session had been scheduled to take place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

An examination for the first semester of the Department of Food Engineering and Tea Technology was also postponed, according to department sources, as a student from the department had travelled to the victim’s village with the body.

Abdul Muhit, an emergency department physician at Osmani Medical College Hospital, said Sadman was brought to the hospital around 1:00 AM but he had already died.

University proctor Mokhlesur Rahman said Sadman’s family had been informed. With approval from the additional district magistrate, the body was sent to the family without an autopsy. Two university students accompanied the body.

Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) of Jalalabad Police Station Mujahidul Islam said, "police visited the hospital, prepared an inquest report and inspected the accident site after receiving the information."

The incident was initially believed to be an accident, he said, adding that the body was handed over to the family without an autopsy with the district magistrate’s approval following a request from the family. An unnatural death case will be filed, he added.