Self killing incidents of five running university students’ only in 19 days have raised questions about country’s existing education system.
The first reported case occurred on March 16, when Dipa Das, a student at Gopalganj Science and Technology University, ended her life following a domestic dispute.
Just two days later, on March 18, Sajib Dutta, a 27-year-old student at Dhaka Medical College, was found dead in Satkhira; his family noted that he had struggled with long-term physical and mental health issues since childhood.
As the new month began, the wave of suicides continued. On the night of April 2, Simanto, a final-year Chemistry student at Dhaka University, put a full stop on his lifespan consuming poison at his home in Hazaribagh.
The following morning, April 3, two more lives were lost. Sabit Mahmud Shawon, a former English student at Jahangirnagar University, was found dead in Uttara reportedly after battling severe depression and posting concerning messages on social media.
Perhaps the most publicized case was that of Arpita Nowshin, a medical student in Cumilla. She reportedly took an overdose of sleeping pills being failed to secure passing a specific subject five times, with her peers alleging that the ‘anger’ and pressure from a faculty member played a significant role in her distress.
Together, these self killing incidents have sparked an urgent conversation regarding the need for better mental health support and a more compassionate academic environment.
When asked about the situation, Dr. Mamun Ahmed, chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), suggested that individual universities are responsible for their own students.
“These matters are not directly under our control”, he said. However, he promised that if the UGC is officially informed, they will ‘certainly take appropriate steps’ and advise institutions to be more careful.
Education and research expert Dr. Syed Shahadat Hossain, professor at the Institute of Statistical Research and Training (ISRT) of Dhaka University believes that the education system needs an urgent overhaul.
“We need to rethink what a ‘student-friendly’ system actually looks like”, he told The Daily Observer. “It’s not just about exams. We need to look at workloads, class hours, and mental health support”.
He also pointed out that ‘ragging’ (bullying by seniors) remains a serious issue that causes lasting psychological trauma.
Beyond the classroom, students are facing a ‘vibes-only’ job market where connections often matter more than merit. Dr. Hossain noted that the link between universities and the industry is ‘weak’.
“In countries like the US, companies engage with students before they graduate”, he said. “Here, they just wait for the ‘finished product’ without helping to develop their skills”.
These tragedies serve as a stark reminder that without urgent systemic reform and robust institutional support, the heavy toll on the nation’s brightest minds will only continue to mount.
