Suicide count among the students of Chittagong University, one of the highest seats of learning in the country, has increased during the last five months from June this year.
At least five students took their lives out of frustration, failing to meet their daily demands due to poverty and failing to cope with the university friends.
Azmeer Hossain, a first year student of law department, hailing from Hatia under Noakhali district, committed suicide on October 12 by hanging himself from a beam of the ceiling of his room. He used to reside in a private cottage adjacent to the university campus.
Azmeer and two other students committed suicide and two others tried to commit suicide during the period, sources said.
Sourodwip Dhrubo, a first year student of Economics Department, killed himself by hanging himself from a ceiling fan on August 9. He hailed from North Masterpara of Sudharam upazila in Noakhali. Lokman Mahmud, a third year student of Law Department, hailing from Ali Akbar village in Kuliarchar of Kishoreganj district, committed suicide on June 17, sources said.
A third year student of Economics Department attempted to commit suicide on September 13 by taking pesticide and a second year female student of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences tried to kill herself by taking nitric acid on July 4. The girl is now undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka.
Md Nurul Islam, chairman of Psychology Department of the university, said there are various reasons behind the rising trend of committing suicide among the young generations nowadays due to break-up of relationship, bad performance in the examinations, uncertainty about career, unemployment and involvement in the immoral activities.
These above mentioned reasons can lead one to depression and the long-standing depression is the main cause of committing suicide, he added.
Nurul Islam said one can commit suicide for being assaulted or victimisation by others too.
Moreover, suicidal tendency may grow among one for genetic reason, he added.
The families can play a vital role to keep the students free from frustration, he said, adding that the parents should be much more careful in their behaviour towards their offspring. If the parents see any symptom of frustration in their children's behaviour, they should take special care of them, he said.
He said arrangement of various campaign programmes to create awareness among the students is the crying need to reduce the rising trend of committing suicide. Meetings, seminar and symposium on suicide can also be arranged on a regular interval in this regard, he added.
Nurul Islam emphasised appointment of psychiatrist in the students' dormitories for giving mental support to the students.
Prof Dr Indrajit Kundu, chairman of Sociology Department, said inclination to commit suicide is rising due to lack of strong social bonds in the modern society.
Failing to cope with the surroundings of modern social system, many students are tending to commit suicide or attempting to do it, he added.
Dr Indrajit said lack of motivational programmes is also an important reason behind the suicidal tendency among the students. Lessening of suicide tendency is possible to a great extent by organising different awareness programmes, he added.
Counseling is also very essential to reduce the suicide tendency among the students, he said.