Bullying: HC questions ‘inaction, apathy’ of authorities
The High Court yesterday questioned the "inaction and apathy" of the authorities to take preventive measures and protect students from bullying at their institutions.
The court issued a rule asking the authorities of the government to explain in four weeks why the inaction and apathy should not be declared illegal.
In the rule, the HC also asked them to show causes why they should not be directed to formulate a policy or guideline to prevent bullying at academic institutions.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Tanvir Ahmed seeking necessary directives on this issue.
The petition was submitted on August 16 following a July 8 report published by the BBC Bangla regarding the death of an Ideal School and College student who was bullied by other students.
He developed anorexia and bulimia due to bullying, according to the BBC Bangla report.
Yesterday, the HC also ordered the district education officer of Dhaka to conduct an inquiry into the reported incident and submit the probe report to the bench in 60 days, petitioner Advocate Tanvir Ahmed told The Daily Star.
Secretaries concerned at the ministries of education and law, director-general of Directorate of education, district education officer of Dhaka, and the principle of Ideal School and College have been made respondents to the rule, he added.
During the hearing on the petition, Advocate Tanvir told the HC, citing a report published on The Daily Star, that according to Unesco more than 23 percent of students have been bullied by peers, leaving a negative impact on the children's mental development.
Such bullying needs to be prevented to protect the students, he argued.
Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar represented the state during the hearing.
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