In 2021, 101 student suicides were recorded, the highest number occurring among students of government universities in the country, 61.39 percent or 62 people, as per analysis of Aanchal Foundation.
The survey data was released at a virtual press conference on Saturday morning.
According to the survey, the number of suicides among university students exceeded one hundred in 2021. This is the first time so many university students have committed suicide in one year.
Combining the suicides of students studying in different educational institutions in 2021, it was seen that last year there were 101 suicides among university students.
The highest number of suicides occurred among the students of government universities.
On the other hand, the suicide rate of students of private universities is 22.77 percent, which is 23 in number. After reviewing this information, it has been seen that the students of government universities have committed suicide the most and the students of engineering universities have committed the least number of suicides.
Suicide cases revealed that the highest number of suicides were committed by students at Dhaka University, numbering nine. Besides, 6 in Jagannath University, 5 in Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and 4 in Rajshahi University. The highest number of suicides among private university students was at Daffodil University, where 3 persons committed suicide.
The suicide rate among the country's top university students has been stated as alarming.
A review of age-based data on suicides has shown that suicides are relatively higher among 22-25 year olds. According to the coordinated data, 70 suicides were reported among students of this age group, accounting for 59.41 percent of the total cases.
Although the suicide rate is generally higher among female students, this year's coordinated data shows that a large proportion of those who committed suicide last year were male students. A total of 65 male students committed suicide which is 64.38 percent. On the other hand, in the case of female students, this number was 36 or 35.64 percent.
Notably, the number of male suicides is almost double that of females. Increased social, financial and family pressures during the pandemic had acted as a major regulator behind male student suicides.
The data shows that the suicide rate among the third and fourth year honors students is relatively high at 36.63 percent. Presumably, these students have more social pressures centering on their careers and are more prone to frustration due to future uncertainties.
