310 students died by suicide in Bangladesh in 2024: Study
About 61% of the deceased were female students, reveals the study by Aachol Foundation
Highlights:
- Female students account for 61% of the suicides
- Secondary school students are at higher risk
- Suicide numbers decreased from 2023, but the decline may be due to underreporting
- Experts recommend school-level counselling to address the issue
At least 310 students from schools, colleges, universities, and madrasas died by suicide across Bangladesh in 2024, according to a survey by Aachol Foundation.
The non-profit organisation's study revealed that 189 (61%) of the deceased were female students.
The rate of suicide among students at the secondary level is higher. Madrasa students are also committing suicide, the report noted.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The findings, published during a virtual press conference today (18 January), were based on an analysis of reports from 105 local and national dailies.
At the press conference, titled "Student Suicides in 2024: Now is the Time to Take Action", it was also highlighted that 532 student suicides were reported in 2022, with the figure slightly decreasing to 513 in 2023.
The foundation reported a further decline in 2024 but attributed this to fewer reports being filed, potentially due to political circumstances.
The organisation underscored the urgent need for action, recommending the introduction of counselling services at the school level to address this issue.
