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Dhaka Tribune

What is in the anti-ragging policy for educational institutions?

Teachers found to be guilty of bullying will face criminal prosecution and cancellation of MPO membership, while student perpetrators may be suspended or even expelled under the policy

Update : 30 Jan 2023, 11:04 PM

The government has formulated a new policy with stringent punishments for both teachers and students who are found to be involved in bullying or ragging.

Teachers found to be guilty of bullying will face criminal prosecution and cancellation of MPO membership, while student perpetrators may be suspended or even expelled under the policy. 

Members of governing bodies, ad hoc committees and management committees will have their membership cancelled if they are involved in ragging.

Punishment will also be ensured under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. 

If the rules are not applied, punitive measures may be taken under relevant laws, states the policy. The extent of the bullying will determine the appropriate punishment.

Suleman Khan, secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Education Ministry, said the Educational Institution Bullying or Ragging Prevention Policy 2023 would be finalized soon.

“After it is finalized, the policy will be implemented at public and private educational institutions across the country,” he added. 

The definition of ragging in the policy includes name-calling, making lewd gestures, teasing, placing emotional pressure, neglect or avoidance, and defamation.

The policy also states that perpetrators of ragging may be teachers or parents, as well as students. Perpetrators may act in groups or as individuals.

Furthermore, it mandates the formation of anti-ragging committees at all educational institutions. The committees will be responsible for monitoring the issue and must hold regular meetings and file reports.

Reports will be sent to the Ministry of Education for action as per the rules.

A seminar or workshop should be organized every six months with the students of educational institutions to raise awareness against ragging. Teachers should be trained to deal with the issue, according to the policy.

Types of bullying

The policy defines verbal ragging as saying or writing something to someone that implies something bad or with negative intentions.

For example, mocking, name-calling, and using obscene words, swearing, whistling, and threatening all qualify as verbal ragging.

Meanwhile, hitting, slapping, kicking, pushing, punching, spitting, tying, standing or sitting in a particular position, or ordering or forcing someone to be in a particular position, taking or breaking things by force, and making obscene or disrespectful gestures with the face or hands are considered as physical bullying or ragging.

Making fun of someone's social status, spreading rumours about someone, publicly insulting someone, and making comments about religion, caste, tribe, or caste were termed as social ragging.

Deliberately touching or attempting to do something offensive to parts of the body, showing signs, stripping, forcing someone to undress, or throwing water or paint on the body were defined as sexual bullying or ragging.  

Hazing and similar activities were categorized as “other bullying”.

According to a Unicef study in 2019, at least 32% of children between the ages of 10 and 17 in Bangladesh are vulnerable to online violence, cyberbullying, and digital harassment.


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