Dhaka, suicide alert among students, 63.9 percent are girls

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - There is alarm in Bangladesh over the growing number of suicides among young (and very young) people, which is also confirmed by the numbers: last year 532 - among secondary schools and universities - took their own lives across the country, with an average of 44 cases per month.

According to numbers provided by activists from the NGO Anchal Foundation, 446 were attending middle and high schools, while the remaining 86 were reported to be enrolled in university. Among the causes of the suicides were unmet family expectations, internal conflicts, depression, mental or economic problems, sexual abuse, harassment and rape.

Added to these are cases related to offensive material posted on social media, insults from teachers, failed exams or failure to purchase smartphones or mopeds.

Interviewed by AsiaNews Matiur Rahman, a researcher and expert on social issues, stresses the importance of teaching boys and girls to accept failure or success as part of life, without losing confidence in case of failure.

"In this way," he warns, "they will be able to overcome adversity" and deal with problems related to the educational and growth path. In many cases, he continues, suicides can be prevented "and all of us can contribute our help, as members of society, parents, friends, colleagues and neighbors."

"We can all," he concludes, "play a role in helping those who are in a crisis that may result in suicide or are grieving someone's suicide. We can stand beside them."

The phenomenon of school-age youth taking their own lives surged last year, up from 42 cases in 2020 and 101 in 2021 out of a total student population of 27 million (168 million total population in Bangladesh).

Dhaka district is the one directing the highest number among high school and university youths, while 54 madrassa (Koranic school) students have taken their own lives. Females account for 63.9 percent of suicides and males for 36.1 percent.

Referring to months, the count speaks of: 34 deaths in January, 39 in February, 41 in March, 50 in April (when the peak is recorded), 45 in May, 31 in June, 40 in July, 21 in August; 32 in September, 30 in October, 49 in November and 34 in December, in the last month of the year. At the district level topping this unenviable ranking is Dhaka with 23.7 percent of suicides, followed by Chittagong with 17.2 and Rajshahi Division with 16.8 percent.

by Sumon Corraya
https://www.asianews.it/news-en