DU wakes up to worrying trend of suicides among students
Nine psychologists to be appointed for counselling as 11 take their own lives in last 5 years
DU students spending a nice time near Swadhinata Stambha at the Suhrawardy Udyan. Sometimes what goes awry forcing some of them to take a deadly decision?Photo: Star File Photo
Increasing cases of suicide among the Dhaka University students, especially girl students, have prompted the authorities to go for appointing psychologists in the dormitories. Nine psychologists will be appointed for five residential halls, two each at Rokeya Hall, Shamsunnahar Hall, Kuwait Maitree Hall, Fazilatunnisa Mujib Hall -- and one in Nawab Faizunnisa Hall. Advertisements have already been pasted to the university walls and fixed to the notice boards. For more than 30 thousand students currently there is only one psychologist working at the Students Counselling and Guidance Centre of the university. "Considering the gravity of the situation that needs immediate attention, we have decided to appoint psychologists in dormitories," said Prof SMA Faiz, vice-chancellor, DU. "Usually any appointment requires approval from the University Grants Commission. But in this case we did not wait for the approval. We have already posted advertisement while the commission is working on the approval," he added. Provosts of different halls led by Razia Akter, the provost of Shamsunnahar Hall, is drafting the terms of reference of the psychiatrist post. There will also be a permanent psychiatrist at the university's Students Counselling and Guidance Centre. In July and August last year, special counseling sessions were arranged in different dormitories to instill positive thoughts into the students. "It is a matter of grave concern that this suicidal tendency grips many of our brilliant students,” said Prof Faiz. “They should not ignore life like that. They should know that their life is very valuable both to their family and to the nation as a whole.” Statistics show suicidal tendency has increased notably among the female students of Dhaka University during the last few years. A total of 11 students, including nine girls, of the university committed suicide during the past five years. In Rokeya Hall alone four students committed suicide during the past one and a half years. In the most recent incident Rehnuma Taslim Antu, a master's student of Economics Department committed suicide at her Paribagh residence on June 4. Her father reported that Antu had been very upset for the last few days as she could not obtain first class in her master's examinations. A fourth-year student of the Institute of Education and Research (IER), Sandhya Rani Sarker, committed suicide on April 15 by hanging herself from a ceiling fan inside her room at Begum Rokeya Hall. Reason behind the suicide could not be known. Sabera Yasmin Papry, a third-year student of the Fine Arts Institute and a resident of Kuwait Maitree Hall, ended her life in August last year. She had chosen the path of suicide after a break-up with her boyfriend, according to her friends. Zohra Khan Progya, a second-year student of Law Department, chose the same path in June 2007. Humayun Kabir, a master's student of Marketing Department committed suicide in March 2005 as he was unable to bear the burden of family problems. Prof Shaheen Islam of DU Psychology Department and director of Students Counselling and Guidance Centre said, “Most young women in Bangladesh suffer from low self-esteem. From childhood they are brought up in such a way that they become dependent on others.” “When a relationship breaks, they feel ignored and insignificant. They take desperate actions thinking that they have no other purpose in life. Other young people with similar problems often imitate such action leading to a suicidal tendency,” she added. Prof Shaheen mentioned that students' visits to the counselling centre have increased in recent times. Classmates and roommates of the deceased, who are emotionally affected by the recent suicide incidents, are visiting the centre for guidance. She said mental health needs to be taken seriously, which is usually ignored in Bangladesh. “This is a crisis period for the young people. They are restless and constantly searching for identity,” she said adding that parents should listen to their children more and make them feel more important. Too much expectation from parents to children might also frustrate them. “Students should try to find their inner strength, have a positive outlook on life,” she suggested. Renowned sociologist Prof Sadeka Halim of DU Sociology Department said counselling for only female students is not adequate. There should be similar programmes in male dormitories. “Relationship involves both men and women. Men should also learn to take responsibility for the consequences inflicted by their emotional actions,” she explained. “Most of the cases that happened in recent times have similar story. Feeling rejected and betrayed, the young women ended life,” Prof Sadeka added. “Female students should learn to respect themselves. There are other wonderful options in life than only a boyfriend who did not appreciate her,” she noted.
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