The government is at the final stage of introducing a policy to stop bullying and aggressive ragging at educational institutions to ensure that students learn in a safe environment without fear.

A draft prepared by the education ministry will soon be finalised with provisions to form a bullying prevention committee at public and private secondary schools, colleges, universities, madrasas, and technical educational institutions. Qawmi madrasas and English medium schools are not included in the policy.

The draft contains definitions of verbal, physical, and cyberbullying with a proposal for punishing students, teachers, and members of the governing body for indulging in any form of aggressive behaviour that leaves a negative impact on the victims.

Considering the degree of bullying and ragging, criminal cases can be filed against the individuals responsible, according to the draft.

Prof Nehal Ahmed, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, said officials discussed the draft yesterday and will need one or two more meetings to finalise it.

The draft needs some language-related changes, he told The Daily Star after yesterday's meeting at the education ministry.

Several officials proposed at the meeting that English medium schools and Qawmi madrasas should also be included in the policy, two officials told this correspondent.

Educationists say bullying is prevalent at schools, but it goes unreported due to stigma and fears that the victim would not get a remedy from authorities. It often leads to devastating consequences that include trouble concentrating on studies, absenteeism, or even dropouts.

A Unicef study in 2019 said one in every four students was bullied by their peers in Bangladesh.

Children who are frequently bullied are nearly three times more likely to feel like an outsider at schools, and twice more likely to miss classes, compared to those who are not frequently bullied, said the study titled "Behind the numbers: Ending school violence and bullying".

WHAT IS IN THE POLICY?

Hitting, slapping, kicking, pushing, punching, and spitting on others are included in the definition of physical bullying. Cyberbullying and ragging mean demeaning someone by writing or posting indecent content about them on social media.

Deliberately touching or attempting to touch one's private parts, offensive signs and gestures, and forceful stripping of clothes are considered sexual bullying and ragging.

Insulting and humiliating someone based on their race, caste, tribe, religion, profession, skin colour, and region are also considered bullying.

"If bullying and ragging are not prevented, society will see a scarcity of good leadership and good citizenship," it reads. "In this context, this policy has been formulated to prevent bullying and ragging in educational institutions."

MONITORING AND PUNISHMENT

The policy proposed setting up security cameras at educational institutions, having complaint boxes, and observing the anti-bullying and anti-ragging day on campuses. Both bullies and victims should be counselled.

The teachers, managing committee members, and others will play a vital role in preventing bullying.

A bully can be suspended and expelled. If a teacher or employee of an institution is found to be a bully, actions will be taken in line with the Government Employee Discipline and Appeal Rules-2018.

Monthly Payment Order (MPO) benefits can be cancelled permanently or temporarily for them by issuing show-cause notices.

If a committee member is involved, they will be removed from their position.

Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education, said if the policy comes into effect, the children will remain safer.

Prompt steps should be taken against bullying, she added.

"In the case of a departmental investigation, it should be done with transparency," she said. 

The extreme cases can be tried under the Cyber Security Act or the Women and Child Repression Prevention Act, she said.