Moral education needed to stop stalking
Minister stresses new syllabus for new generation as he visits slain teacher's house in Rajshahi
Slain college teacher Mizanur Rashid's mother breaks down in tears as Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid visits her Chawk Laxmipur residence in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi yesterday. Bottom, the minister at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital consoles Shafiur Rahman Zoha, who faced the wrath of stalkers for protesting their evil act at Khaspara in Naogaon district on Saturday night.Photo: STAR
Alongside making the law more effective to stop stalking in the society, the government is considering a modern education system through inclusion of moral teaching in the syllabus, said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid in Rajshahi yesterday. “We want to make our sons and daughters into human beings through education. So we will introduce a new education system for the new generation to adapt them with the needs of the new era. We will include moral education like lessons against stalking in syllabuses,” he said. “The government is worried at incidents of suicide of some hapless students. We are considering appointment of psychologists at schools and colleges so that they can properly counsel students in distress following stalking and other problems,” he said. The minister was addressing a huge gathering at the courtyard of the house of murdered college teacher Mizanur Rashid at Chawk Laxmipur village in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi at around 11:00am. “Many girls like Simi of Dhaka and Trisha of Gaibandha lost their lives as consequences of stalking by delinquents during the previous BNP-Jamaat government. But no action was taken. If actions were taken in time, the situation would not aggravate as it is today. “We will not spare anyone involved in crimes like stalking. Measures must be taken to save our youths from turning into criminals,” he said. Stressing the need for a change in the mindset about girls and women, the minister said social movement should also be launched to stop stalking. “People are the owner of the country, and it is our responsibility to provide them security. We need to educate our boys and girls. And so, they must go to school. No obstacle to their ways will be tolerated.” He called upon parents and guardians to be more cautious about their wards and teachers to care for students. Locals at Mizan's house complained before the minister that some people are trying to portray the attack on Mizan as an accident and save his killers. The minister assured them that nobody, however power he may be, would be spared from the law during the rule of present government. Two stalkers seriously injured Mizanur Rashid, a chemistry teacher of Lokmanpur College in Bagatipara upazila of Natore on October 12, following his protest against harassment of college girls. He died at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on October 24. Consoling Mizan's mother, the minister said people of the country will remember Mizan's sacrifice for the noble cause. Later, the minister visited Lokmanpur College in Natore and exchanged views with teachers of the college. He instructed local police to investigate the case properly. Earlier at about 9:00am, he went to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital to see Abdul Hannan and his son, who were stabbed by a stalker in Naogaon on Saturday night. The minister assured them of bringing the culprits to justice.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments