DHAKA – Bangladesh has banned beating in schools after an upsurge of "inhuman" treatment of pupils by teachers, an official said Tuesday.
"Corporal punishment hinders the progress of a student," education secretary Syed Ataur Rahman said in a government order issued late Monday to schools nationwide.
"Teachers should help the physical and mental growth of the students to flourish — they should be grooming them so they grow up as worthy citizens of the country," the order said.
Rahman told AFP that the ban on beating and caning was because the government had "seen that these punishments can be inhuman".
"Some parents have even attacked teachers for beating their child," he said, adding that corporal punishment could also cause truancy, as pupils avoided classes at which they had been beaten.
The move comes after the country’s High Court urged the government to tackle growing cases of excessive corporal punishment in schools.
In March, eight Bangladeshi children received treatment in hospital after being caned by their headmistress for forgetting to bring coloured pencils to school.
Bangladesh has more than 30 million students in schools and madrassas — and nine out of 10 are physically beaten in school, according to a report released last October by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). www.ekantipur.com/2010/08/10/south-asia/bangladesh-bans-beating-in-schools/320179/
2.Downpour clogs Dhaka roads
Daily Star Online, Aug 11
Different parts of the Dhaka city are experiencing heavy traffic jam due to water logging caused by heavy rainfall since 6:00am on Wednesday.
The water logging caused serious sufferings to thousands of school children and commuters.
According to duty forecast officer of Met Office Abdur Rahman, 76 millimetres rain fell between 6:00am and 11:00am.
Weathermen predict sporadic light to moderate rain accompanied by gusty wind throughout the day.
Traffic Control Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) told The Daily Star that traffic jam on different roads in the capital has taken a serious turn due to the torrential rain, causing water logging at least at 20 different points of the city.
Ranjan, an official of Traffic Control Department, said rainwater has submerged roads at different points including Moghbazar, Dhanmondi, Shantinagar, Farmgate, Shyamoli, northern part of Bijoy Swarani and Mohakhali. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=25263
3. Khaleda alleges extortion
Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that the ruling party men are engaged in extortion in the name of commemorating their leader ahead of August 15.
While addressing a joining ceremony, she once again bitterly criticised the government for signing $1bn loan agreement with India, saying that Awami League has to take all responsibilities for signing secret deals.
Lt Col (retd) Abdul Khaleque, chairman of Barguna Sadar upazila, joined BNP by handing over bouquets of flower to BNP chairperson at her Gulshan office in the capital.
Khaleda Zia said AL activists started extortion, tender manipulation and grabbing since assuming power by the present government which has been extended to extreme level in the name of commemorating their leader [Bangabandhu]. “It’s a good thing that they [ruling party men] will remember their leader. They can use their own money but, unfortunately, they are collecting toll,” she added. www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=150300
4. Bangladesh Madrasa teachers mostly untrained says World Bank
Dhaka: Teachers with no formal training mostly staff the Qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh, said a World Bank (WB) report.
A staggering 82 percent of math teachers there are untrained. Around 80 percent English teachers in Qawmi madrasas are untrained while it is 44 percent in Aliyah madrasas and 19 percent in general schools, the report said.
The WB report is titled "Secondary School Madrasa in Bangladesh: Incidence, quality and implication for reform" at a city hotel.
The study found that although the madrasas have played a significant role in increasing student’s enrolment in institutions, the quality of higher secondary level madrasa education remains a major challenge. According to it, at secondary level nearly one out of five children attends madrasas, mostly in registered ones.
It, however, said the overall quality of secondary level education across the country is low and urged the government to focus more on the sector to improve the standard of education in Bangladesh. www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=150309
5..Attack in Tangail, Ahmadiyyas demand steps for security
Dhaka: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jam’aat Bangladesh Tuesday urged the government to take active steps to rehabilitate the ousted Ahmadiyyas in Tangail, guarantee their security so that they can perform daily activities safely.
Ten Ahmadiyyas were injured on Sunday when a group of enraged villagers attacked them at Chandtara village of Ghatail upazila when they were raising a mosque.
A section of religious extremists led by a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader are behind the assault, claimed the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jam’aat leaders at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity. They also demanded exemplary punishment for the miscreants.
"Several incidents of harassment and assaults on Ahmadiyyas during the past three years are the sign of cruelty and brutality which is unprecedented," said Meer Mobasher Ali, Naib National Ameer of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jam’aat Bangladesh.
The Ameer said Tangail District Commissioner assured the community that action will be taken against the miscreants. www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=150315
