Rag day celebrations at universities: UGC puts restrictions

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has put some restrictions on celebrations of rag day which is held on the last day of classes amid different programmes and fanfare.

The grants commission in letters to the all public and private universities asked the authorities to stop all kinds of obscenity, nudity, DJ parties, indecent and cruel behavior, "banned activities" and bullying, in the name of rag day celebrations.

"We put some restrictions on rag day celebrations as per an order of the High Court," UGC acting chairman Prof Dil Afroza Begum told The Daily Star today (July 5, 2022).

She categorically said that they are not banning rag day celebrations.

"Authorities of universities will determine what are obscenity, nudity, DJ parties, indecent and cruel behavior", she added.

Afroza said activities that are "indecent in the eye of the society should be termed – indecent".

The High Court on April 17 directed the authorities concerned to stop DJ parties, illegal and cruel activities and bullying in the name of rag day at all educational institutions in 30 days.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities to explain in four weeks why their inaction to stop such activities at the institutions should not be declared illegal.