Highlights
- Authorities plan to stop disorder in the name of Rag Day in schools and colleges.
- The move comes after earlier restrictions in universities by the University Grants Commission (Bangladesh).
- The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has asked regional officials to report progress by 30 March.
- The initiative also focuses on preventing eve-teasing and increasing student awareness about studies and discipline.
After restrictions in universities, authorities are now taking steps to control Rag Day celebrations in schools and colleges across Bangladesh. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has started monitoring efforts to prevent disorder, inappropriate behavior, and harassment in the name of Rag Day at secondary and higher secondary educational institutions.
Regional directors and deputy directors of DSHE have been asked to collect information from all institutions under their jurisdiction and submit a summary report by March 30.
Background: Restrictions Already in Universities
Earlier, the University Grants Commission (Bangladesh) instructed universities to stop indecent behaviour, nudity, DJ parties, bullying, and other inappropriate activities carried out in the name of Rag Day. The directive was issued in 2022, after long-standing criticism regarding ragging and misconduct at several public universities.
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Awareness Campaign and Monitoring
In a recent letter from the monitoring and evaluation wing of DSHE, officials were also asked to report on several related initiatives, including:
- Preventing eve-teasing in educational institutions
- Increasing awareness for students to focus on studies at night
- Promoting anti-drug campaigns and documentaries prepared by the Department of Narcotics Control (Bangladesh)
All regional authorities must compile reports from district and upazila-level institutions and send them via email before the deadline.
Court Order and Previous Legal Action
The restrictions on Rag Day activities originally followed legal action in 2022, when Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Kamrul Hasan filed a petition at the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. On 17 April 2022, the High Court directed authorities to stop bullying, nudity, DJ parties, and indecent activities in the name of Rag Day within 30 days.
Source: The Daily Campus
