Education
Flowers & banners welcome students as DU reopens dorms
After nearly 18 months of Covid-forced closure, Dhaka University Tuesday morning welcomed back its residential students to the dormitories with flowers and banners.
Only vaccinated final-year honours and master’s students were allowed to check in, after production of valid documents and proof of at least a dose of a Covid vaccine.
Read: Vaccination campaign in Dhaka University starts from Monday to jab its students, teachers and staff
UNB found students in a cheerful mood as they queued up to enter the residential halls, wearing face masks and adhering to other mandatory Covid-safety protocols like social distancing.
Inside halls, provosts were seen asking them to refrain from hanging out in groups or crowding a particular place.
IU to reopen residential halls on Oct 9
After a gap of nearly 18 months, Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia is all set to reopen its residential halls to students on October 9.
Regular classes of all departments, however, will resume from October 20, IU information publication and public relations office director Ataul Hoque said.
Read:Islamic University waives transport, hall fees from period of Covid-19 closure
The decision to reopen the residential halls was taken at IU's 263rd syndicate meeting held at vice chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam's official residence Monday. The meeting was chaired by the VC.
Students will have to produce proof of at least one dose of a Covid vaccine to access the residential facilities and attend the classes, Ataul said.
The central library of the university, however, reopened on Tuesday.
Read: Islamic University to start final exams from Sept 12
"All arrangements have been made to reopen the residential halls. But no student will be allowed to stay at the ‘gana room’ as it could cause a surge in Covid infections, the vice-chancellor said.
Among others, IU pro-VC Professor M Mahbubur Rahman, treasurer Professor M Alamgir Hossain Bhuiya and acting registrar M Ataur Rahman were present at the meeting.
Last month, a group of students staged a protest on the campus, demanding the university reopen the residential halls to the students on September 30.
Kuet dorms to reopen on October 22
Khulna University for Science and Technology (Kuet) will reopen its dormitories from October 22 for 3rd year, final year and Masters students.
Rest of students will be allowed to stay at dormitories from November 5.
Read:DU dormitories to reopen on Oct 5
The decision was taken at the 81st (emergency) meeting of the Academic Council chaired by University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kazi Sazzad Hossain on Sunday afternoon after reviewing the instructions of the Education Ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC).
According to the meeting, classes of the 3rd, final year and Masters students will start on October 25 and classes of the 1st and 2nd year students will start on November 7.
Read:University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC
Students who have received the first jab of the Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to enter halls after showing the vaccine card.
RU admission tests begin
Rajshahi University authority started admission test for the 2020-21 academic session on Monday.
'C' unit 1st shift exams started at 9.30 am and ended at 10.30 am. The 2nd and 3rd shift examinations will be held from 12pm to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 4pm respectively.
Read:Dhaka University’s ‘Kha’ unit admission test held
According to the university authorities, a total of 44,194 candidates applied for 'C' unit, 43,558 for 'A' unit, and 39,895 for 'B' unit.
RU pro-vice-chancellor professor Sultan Ul Islam said, “We have already completed all the preparations for the admission test. 'C' unit exams have started today.”
Read:DU admission tests held for the first time in all divisional cities
'A' unit exams will be held Tuesday and 'B' unit exams on October 06.
Rajshahi University authority decided to allow female candidates to stay in the female residential halls but no guardians are allowed there.
RUB unrest: Students relax protests upon minister’s assurance
Students protesting the haircut humiliation at Rabindra University Bangladesh have unlocked the administrative building of university on Saturday afternoon following assurance by Education Minister Dipu Moni of launching a probe into the incident.
The students said they will be there in front of the academic building until assistant proctor and chairperson of Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department Farhana Yeasmin Baten is terminated.
Shamim Hossain, spokesperson of the protesting students, said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni listened to their demand as well as wanted to know why they are continuing the protests although the teacher has been suspended.
Also read: Haircut humiliation: Rabindra University suspends teacher Farhana
“She (minister) also assured that proper action will be taken against the accused teacher on the basis of the probe committee report,” said Shamim.
They will end protests if they get justice from the investigation committee on Monday, or else they will go for a tougher movement, he added.
On September 26, Farhana instructed an office assistant to trim the hair of 14 first-year students while they were entering examination halls as they reportedly ignored her previous instruction to have their hair cut.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Nazmul Hasan Tuhin, 25, a student of the department, allegedly consumed sleeping pills the following day in an ‘attempt to take his own life’.
However, Farhana denied the allegation and claimed that it was just propaganda against her as she did not defer the exam as per the request of a few students.
On Thursday, the RUB students staged protests demanding termination of the teacher.
The following day, the High Court asked the RUB VC and registrar for taking steps against those involved in the incident and filing a report within a month.
The court also questioned why legal action will not be taken against associate professor Farhana, the chairman of Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department of RUB, assistant professors Rajib Adhikari and Jannatul Ferdous Moon. The court also said why direction to compensate the humiliated students with Tk 20 lakh each should not be given.
Also read: Haircut humiliation: Rabindra University students continue protests
Amid student protests, Farhana quit the three additional positions of assistant proctor, head of the department and syndicate member.
On Friday, the RUB authorities suspended Farhana, and formed a five-member committee earlier to probe the incident.
Dhaka University’s ‘Kha’ unit admission test held
The admission test of Dhaka University's 'Kha' unit for 2020-21 academic session was held on Saturday in all eight divisions of the country.
The total number of seats in this unit is 2,378. However, a total of 47,639 applicants participated in the test.
This year, the DU entry tests are being held outside Dhaka as well as at the university for the first time considering the pandemic situation.
Also read: DU admission tests held for the first time in all divisional cities
Strict hygiene rules were maintained at all the venues of the divisional cities.
"The exam was held are in a peaceful environment," Dhaka University Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani told UNB.
DU Vice Chancellor Professor Akhtaruzzaman, pro VC (administration) prof Dr Samad, pro VC (administration) Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal visited the different exam centers in Dhaka.
The entry test of Dhaka University's 'Ka' unit was held on Friday peacefully in all eight divisions.
Also read: DU expels two students for digital and admission fraud
DU admission tests held for the first time in all divisional cities
Thousands of students on Friday sat for tests seeking admission to Dhaka University in the exams held for the first time in Dhaka and seven other divisional cities to avoid hassles and possible Covid-19 infections.
The 90-minute tests starting from 11am were held for ‘Ka’ unit for the 2020-21 academic session.
"The exams were held are in a peaceful manner and no untoward incident was reported," Dhaka University Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani told UNB.
Read: DU admission tests at all divisional cities from Oct 1
"We have contacted the vice chancellors of universities in different divisions. They told us that the tests are going on smoothly. The students are following the health rules," DU Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman told a press briefing.
RU to reopen halls Oct 17
Rajshahi University on Thursday decided to reopen its residential halls on October 17 before resuming academic activities on October 20.
The decision came from an academic council meeting of the university held on Thursday afternoon.
English department professor and academic council member Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed the development, adding that both the summer and winter vacations would be foregone this year to make up for time lost to the pandemic.
IU students demand reopening of halls
A group of students of Islamic University demonstrated on the campus in Kushtia on Thursday demanding reopening of the residential halls for the students of the university.
Around 30 students from different departments gathered in front of the vice-chancellor residence and staged a sit-in programme there around 3:30pm.
The agitating students chanted different slogans to press home their demand of reopening the halls within October 8.
The university started taking examinations of various departments keeping all the residential halls closed.
The authorities should consider the incapacity of the students from low or middle income families as they could not afford accommodation on their own, said Azizul Hoque, a student of the Islamic History and Culture department.
The protesters threatened to intensify their protest movement unless the halls are reopened.
Later, IU assistant proctor Shofiqul Islam went to the spot and tried to bring the situation under control but failed
The students withdrew their demonstration as the university proctor assured them of looking into the matter very soon.
The decision of reopening the halls would be taken in an academic council meeting scheduled to be held on October 4, IU VC Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam said.
On September 14, the university authorities decided to reopen the campus after September 27 ensuring hundred percent Covid-19 vaccination of all students.
But there is still no progress on that front as we step into October.
No JSC, JDC exams this year, says Edu Minister
The government has decided against holding this year's Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday.
“No JSC, JDC examinations will be held this year and the students will be upgraded to the next class through temporary tests,” she said while speaking at a programme on the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held at Dhaka Mohila Polytechnic Institute in city’s Agargaon.
Referring to SSC and HSC examinations, the minister said “We have taken all-out preparation and I hope the examinations will be held in time as per the schedule.”
She advised the students to devote to gaining knowledge instead of running after GPA-5.