Ragging in public universities must be stopped

Ragging, the hidden mistreatment of freshers at the hands of senior students, has over the years become a tradition in the higher educational culture in Bangladesh. Many of these junior students are seriously affected by it, with the worst of the practices forcing them to walk barefoot across campus, stand in the searing sunlight for hours, and propose to girls in humiliating circumstances. Many freshers even prefer to avoid going to the university in fear of being subjected to this.

It is true that new university students need to be acclimatised with the college culture, but they certainly do not have to accept such repressive actions. Considering the harmful effects of these activities, university administration ought to take effective initiatives to curb this negative culture. Meanwhile, senior students should speak out against it and work to protect their junior classmates and welcome them in more positive ways.