Dhaka, Oct 10 – Education minister Dipu Moni yesterday expressed her concern regarding the torture on students in the name of ragging and bullying in the university level.She said ragging and bullying would be stopped at the universities at any cost and social movement is necessary to stop it as the government alone cannot do it.
The minister came up with the statement at the convocation of the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
“Torture is being carried out on the students in the name of ragging and bullying at the universities. One student of BUET has lost life. As a result, BUET has become unrest for it. Such ragging and bullying has to be stopped at the universities at any cost,” Dipu Moni said.
“Students are being tortured both physically and mentally in the name of ragging and bullying. It’s a major problem and it has to be stopped,” the minister said.
Pointing out that the government alone cannot stop the practice of ragging and bullying, she said, ‘The government alone cannot stop ragging and bullying. We need to build up a social movement with all irrespective of any party affiliation.”
Regarding the unrest in the universities, she said, “Unrest is prevailing at different universities. We have to look into the matter to find out the root cause. A student has lost life at BUET for expressing dissent opinions. I am sadden and shocked at this. I express my sympathy with the bereaved family members.”
In another occasion on unveiling a report on “Global Education Monitoring Report 2019,’ at International Mother Language Institute in the capital said, “Ragging and bullying are common in all over the world but it is against the social values and education system of our country.”
In reply to a query of the journalists, she said, “BUET administration itself has to resolve the prevailing unrest. The government will not impose anything on it.”
“The BUET administration has to address the demands of the students. We have nothing to do here,” she added.
In another query about banning politics in BUET, she said, “There are other student organisations except Chhatra League. We did not see them to launch movement. It is the decision of the BUET administration whether there would be politics in BUET or not. The government has nothing to do here.”
Asked about the resignation of the BUET Vice-Chancellor, the minister said, “It does not depend on the education ministry regarding VC’s resignation. The VC has only few months to run his office. His removal will be the government’s top level decision. The ministry has nothing to do here.”
The killing of a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering department of BUET Abrar Fahad has created much spark as he was beaten to death by some Chhatra League leaders of the university unit on Monday.
The students of BUET are continuing their demonstration demanding capital punishment of the killers. They have also placed 10-point demand including the stopping of student politics in BUET.
Besides, they said many of their students have been tortured both physically and mentally in the name of ragging and bullying by Chhatra League leaders of the university unit on different occasions. – Staff Reporter
