Chattogram, Mar 21 (UNB) - Chittagong University authorities have decided in principle to hold elections to its central students’ union (Cucsu) and hall unions after around three decades.

CU Vice-chancellor Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury confirmed the decision after a meeting with provosts and proctorial body at his office on Wednesday.

“The date for the elections will be finalised after due procedure,” the VC told reporters.

A committee will be formed tomorrow (Thursday) to update the decades-old Cucsu polls guidelines, he said.

Like Dhaka University’s Ducsu, the last Cucsu election was held in 1990 when Nazim Uddin was elected its vice-president (VP) and Azim Uddin general secretary.
 
Different student organisations have long been demanding Cucsu election.

The demand drew much attention when Dhaka University held the elections to Ducsu and its hall unions on March 11, 2019.
 

Dhaka, Mar 20 (UNB) – The government has decided not to take any examination of the students of classes I, II and III.

Primary and Mass Education Ministry has taken the decision following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directives, Primary and Mass Education Secretary Akram-Al-Hossain told UNB on Wednesday.

“We’re taking steps as per the Prime Minister’s directives. We’ll try to implement the decision from the current year. If the decision is not executed this year for any reason, it’ll be implemented next year,” he said.

The secretary also said the pre-primary education system will be of two years instead of existing one year and children aged above four will be enrolled in the pre-primary class.
 

Sylhet, Mar 19 (UNB) – Students of Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) formed a human chain in front of the academic building protesting the killing dogs by poisoning them across campus on Tuesday.
 
Around three hundred students from six faculties along with professor of Surgery Department Sultana Lucky took part in the protest programme.

The protesting students claimed Prof Sultan Ahmed Tipu hired the university’s preventive team staff Jewel for killing dogs by applying poison across campus.  He gave TK 100 for killing each dog. As per the directives of the teacher, Jewel poisoned 18 dogs of which two died on the spot. 

Later, students gave first aid to the affected dogs and held Jewel for gleaning information from him.

Protesting students condemned the killing terming it as ‘brutal act’ and sought exemplary punishment for those who involved in the poisoning.
 

Islamic University (Kushtia), Mar 19 (UNB) – Islamic University (IU) authorities in Kushtia have suspended five students of the Applied Nutrition and Food Technology department over a ragging incident.

The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the academic committee held on Tuesday with IU Vice-chancellor Prof M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari in the chair, said sources at the IU registrar office.

The action was taken against Ador Biswas, Mahfuz Ahmed Nabil, Mridul Paul Gital, Tanzila Parvin Neem and SM Abul Bashar, second year students of the department, for ragging a new female student of the same department, IU acting registrar SM Abdul Latif told UNB. 

The university authorities also formed a three-member probe body, led by Biological Sciences faculty Dean Prof Anwarul Haque Shapon, to look into the matter and asked the committee to submit its report within seven working days, he added.
 

Jahanginagar University, Mar 18 (UNB) – A faction of Jahangirnagar University teachers on Monday staged a token ‘sit-in’ programme in front of Vice Chancellor’s office demanding academic council election for unelected and date-expired posts.

The teachers under the banner of ‘Shommilito Shikkhak Shomaj’ also demanded the election of Jahangirnagar University Central Student Union (JUCSU) after ensuring congenial atmosphere on the campus. 

They took up positions in front of the VC’s office at 11 am and staged the ‘sit-in’ until 1 pm. 

Leader of the anti-VC alliance, Professor Md Kamrul Ahsan said “According to the university act, VC is compelled to hold elections of different unelected posts. VC Professor Farzana Islam earlier decided to hold the elections within May 6 after discussing with the authorities. But, now she is delaying process by showing cause of her sicknesses.”

Addressing the function, convener of the teachers’ unity and President of Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) Professor Ajit Kumar Majumder said they want that the university authority would ensure the congenial democratic atmosphere on the campus and would follow the university acts. 

“We are not demanding the resignation of JU VC,” he added.  

Professor Jamal Uddin Runu, JUTA Secretary Professor Sohel Rana, Professor Shamsul Alam Selim, Professor Koushik Saha, Professor Farid Ahmed, Professor Khabir Uddin, Professor Kamrul Ahsan and Professor Mafruhi Satter spoke at the programme among others.

Meanwhile, another faction of teachers backed by the VC - ‘Bangabandhur Adarsher Shikkhak Parishad’, termed the demands as inhuman and illogical.

JU VC Professor Farzana Islam has been on leave since March 6 due to illness.