Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, July 13, 2026 (BSS)- A seminar on mental health and the "Renu Smriti Trust Scholarship Award Ceremony" was held at Rajshahi University (RU) today.

The seminar, organised by the Department of Philosophy, took place at Momtazuddin Building in the campus.

Chaired by the department's Chairperson Professor Ariful Islam, the seminar was attended by Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Faridul Islam as the chief guest.

Pro-VC (Administration) Prof Abdul Alim and Pro-VC (Education) Prof Mamunur Rashid were present as special guests.

Dr. Rakibuzzaman Chowdhury, a renowned psychiatrist and addiction specialist, spoke at the seminar as the resource person.

Highlighting the importance of mental health, he stressed the need for ensuring mental health to all for their betterment.

Optimum treatment and necessary healthcare facilities towards the mentally sick are very vital to facilitate them to get back their normal life.

"Awareness about mental illness and acceptance of treatment are very low due to social stigma and superstition," he added.

Psychosocial care of mentally sick and disaster affected people constitute a major challenge for the health and the social welfare systems of the country.

Taking advantage of the situation, he said, some quacks and opportunist groups have been working as money-makers by exploiting the patients.

In his remarks, VC Prof Faridul Islam mentioned that the quacks are pushing the patients to endangered conditions. Mental health needs to be brought under the surveillance system incorporating other non-communicable diseases.

The state-level treatment facilities for the mental disorder patients are very limited, he said and underscored the need for uplifting the scopes to cope with the situation.

Integration of mental health services with primary health care has become the most viable way of narrowing the treatment gap and ensuring that common people benefit from mental health promotion.

During the event, the "Renu Smriti Trust Scholarship" was awarded to four meritorious students each from the first year of the Bachelor’s (Honors) programme in the department.

On the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor handed over cheques to the scholarship recipients.