Harassment on Challenged Students
Report on govt steps: HC
The High Court yesterday directed the government to submit a report to it on the steps taken to stop harassment of and discrimination against challenged students in educational institutions as early as possible.
The court also issued a rule upon the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why their inaction to formulate a policy to prevent such acts should not be declared illegal.
Secretaries of the ministries of home affairs, education, health and social welfare, National Disability Welfare Coordination Committee, Rajshahi University vice chancellor and registrar, inspector general of police, director of health service and Bogra Saheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College principal were made respondents to the order and rule.
The HC bench of Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif came up with the order and rule after the hearing of a writ petition, filed on February 12 seeking directive on the authorities to stop such acts.
It was jointly filed by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Manusher Jonno Foundation, Centre for Disability in Development, Shankar Chakrabartee, father of a challenged student, and Tanjim Al Islam, a Prothom Alo journalist.
Madhusudan Chakrabartee, a student of Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, committed suicide on December 12, 2010 as he could not stand being tormented by his teachers for stuttering, says a BLAST press release.
Before committing suicide, Madhusudan had informed his father, Shankar Chakrabartee, on being tormented by the teachers and a case regarding this issue is now pending with a court.
But police did not submit any investigation report and even the institution concerned did not take any action, said the release.
Barrister Sara Hossain and Advocate Kazi Zahed Iqbal appeared for the petitioners while Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Saju represented the government.
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