Education
Bangladesh extends closure of educational institutions until June 30
The government has extended the ongoing closure of all the educational institutions of Bangladesh until June 30 considering the worsening coronavirus situation in the country.
The decision has been taken considering the safety of teachers, students and staff and imposition of lockdowns in different districts, Mohammad Abul Khayer, public relations officer of the Education Ministry, told UNB on Saturday.
Earlier on May 26, the government had decided to reopen the educational institutions, particularly primary, secondary and higher secondary ones, in the country on June 13 depending on the Covid situation. But the situation keeps worsening in the country, particularly in bordering districts.
Also read: Pros and Cons of Reopening Educational Institutions during Pandemic
Abul Khayer, however, said the online classes will continue as before.
The decision has been taken as per the directives of the National Technical Advisory Committee formed to fight Covid-19 in the country and it will remain applicable for Ebtedayee and Qawmi madrasas, too.
RU to hold exams scrapped in 2019, 2020 in-person from this month
The Rajshahi University authority has decided to hold the examinations in-person from June 20. The exams that were postponed in 2019, then in 2020 due to the pandemic, will all be held in two phases starting later this month.
The decisions came from a meeting held on Thursday between the university administration, deans of the faculties, chairpersons of the departments and directors of the institutes of the university.
Also read: DU to take exams online from July 1 if Covid situation remains unchanged
RU public relation office administrator professor Md. Ajijur Rahman informed this through a press release.
Engineering faculty dean professor Md. Ekramul Hamid said those examinations which were postponed in 2019 will start from June 20, and examinations from 2020 will be held from July 4.
Also read: All professional MBBS final exams postponed
Academic committees of each department will decide to make a routine for exams following the determined dates. They will shorten the syllabuses if needed, he added.
RU acting vice-chancellor professor Ananda Kumar Saha said dormitories of the university will open if the government instructs to that effect. Otherwise, the dormitories will remain closed.
Read Pros and Cons of Reopening Educational Institutions during Pandemic
Barishal University: 82, inc. 40 teachers, earn promotions
Barishal University witnessed a record number of promotions this week, of both academic and non-academic staff and officials.
The university registrar's office issued promotion letters to 40 teachers, 15 officials, 27 staff over Monday and Tuesday.
Although the bloated number has drawn attention to their eligibility, the university maintains only eligible personnel had been promoted following a proper process and policy.
Read Pros and Cons of Reopening Educational Institutions during Pandemic
A university official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the administration had formed a board to prepare a list of eligible persons for promotion. In fact several people who were also long due for promotions, again failed to make the cut. Some of them even made it as far as an oral exam that was part of the process.
Welcoming the university's move, Barisal University Officers Association President Bahauddin Golap said, "The university never saw the promotion of these many teachers, officials and staff at the same time."
Bahauddin did however call for some changes in the university's promotions policy.
Read JU treasurer to serve as next Pro-VC
Barishal University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Md Sadequl Arefin said, "Even before I joined, promotions of many, including teachers and officials, were stuck in a bottleneck. I wanted to solve the problem from the beginning. Although Covid-19 slowed down the process, I continued it following the upgradation policy."
About the ones who missed out on the recent promotion, Dr Sadequl said, "They could not be promoted even after attending the viva due to the upgradation policy."
In 2020, around 50 teachers were promoted even in the midst of the shutdown due to Covid-19. Two previous VCs were said to have held back on their promotions.
Teachers and staff who did not get promoted for a long time started demanding promotion almost as soon as Dr Sadequl joined as VC in November 2019.
Read RU students give 24-hr ultimatum for hall reopening
JU treasurer to serve as next Pro-VC
Sheikh Md. Manjurul Haque, the current Treasurer of Jahangirnagar University, has been appointed as the next Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Pro-VC) of the university.
He will assume his new role as the Pro - VC after his term as Treasurer ends on July 8.
He has been appointed to the post for a four-year term.
By the order of the university's chancellor President Abdul Hamid, the Department of Secondary and Higher Education of the Ministry of Education issued a notification confirming the appoi
Read Pros and Cons of Reopening Educational Institutions during Pandemic
University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday decided to vaccinate university students as soon as possible so that their dormitories could be reopened.
The decision was taken at a virtual meeting chaired by Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni. The vice-chancellors of public universities and officials of the Education Ministry and UGC took part in the meeting.
As per the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, all the university students would be vaccinated on priority basis starting with residential ones.
Also read: Bangladesh sees rise in Covid infections; 41 more die
The meeting decided to permit all the public and private universities to conduct online and direct examinations at their respective university campuses.
The academic councils of the respective universities would take the final decisions regarding the online and direct examinations following the UGC instructions.
Also read: Take exams but don’t reopen halls: UGC
Dorms will be reopened making it sure that all the students are vaccinated and the academic activities of the universities are run regularly, said a UGC media release.
The universities were asked to prepare a Recovery Plan according to their capacity and the social reality so that the damage caused to the students during the pandemic could be minimised, the release added.
DU: JCD activists, campus journo attacked by BCL
Some leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) allegedly attacked members of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Dhaka University campus today.
Chhatra Dal DU convener Rakibul Islam alleged that at least 20 activists of the organisation were injured in the attack. Six of them were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
"We came under the sudden attack by some BCL men while we were taking preparations to distribute food and educational materials in TSC area around 11:30am, as part of our leader Ziaur Rahman's death anniversary programme," Rakibul said.
Moreover, Amzad Hossain, DU correspondent of an online news portal named 'Dhaka Post', was also beaten by the BCL men when he was present during the incident, reports our DU correspondent.
"Suddenly, Amir Hamza, joint general secretary of Zahurul Haque Hall unit of Chhatra League, started beating me up while I stood near the spot to cover the incident," said Amzad.
Denying the allegations, DU BCL General Secretary Saddam Hossain said, "We know nothing about the attack. The incident might have occurred due to internal conflict over the Chhatra Dal committee. None from Chhatra League is involved in the incident."
Left student bodies demand reopening DU halls, vaccination of students
Left student oraganisations of Dhaka University (DU) staged a demonstration on the campus on Tuesday (June 01, 2021) demanding reopening of residential halls, vaccination of students and staff, and announcement of a roadmap on reopening of the university.
They held a rally in front of Raju Memorial Sculpture under the banner of ‘Progotishil Chhatro Jote or Progressive Students' Alliance.
They threatened to intensify their protests if their demands are not met.
Also Read: Leftist students demand reopening DU halls
When asked by UNB about justification of demanding the reopening of halls when most of the projections say Covid situation in the country might worsen by the end of June or beginning of July, Meghmallar Bose, Assistant General Secretary of the DU unit of Bangladesh Students Union said,“The pandemic is a real problem. But the economic and psychological crises that general students are going through are no less significant.”
“We also demand that vaccines are given to students as early as possible to mitigate the risk of Covid spread,” he said.
When asked about considering online exams as an alternative, he replied, “ Since the government hasn't even been able to improve the medical infrastructures enough to provide ICUs for Covid patients, it is laughable if someone thinks they can improve internet infrastructure all of a sudden to make sure that students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds and living in remote areas will be able to access online classes on a regular basis.“
Read University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC
Besides, Dhaka University (DU) teachers and students on Sunday demanded reopening residential halls, resuming classes and taking exams immediately maintaining health guidelines.
Terming the ongoing closure of educational institutions 'illogical', around 100 students and teachers under the banner of "hall and educational institutions open movement" formed a human chain at the base of Raju Memorial sculpture on the campus.
Addressing the rally, Md Asif Nazrul, professor and chairman of Law department, said, "If garments, shopping malls and vehicles can operate following health guidelines, why will the educational institutions remain closed? All educational institutions must be reopened by maintaining health protocols."
Read DU: JCD activists, campus journo attacked by BCL
"Affluent persons' children have sufficient means to learn from home but most students can't even manage a digital device or proper network to continue academic activities," he said.
Prof Imdadul made new VC of JnU
Dr Md Imdadul Hoque, a professor of the Department of Botany of Dhaka University and Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, has been made new vice-chancellor of Jagannath University (JnU).
Read: The contenders to be the next VC of Rajshahi University
The Secondary and Higher Secondary Department of Education Ministry issued a circular in this regard on Tuesday.
The new vice-chancellor will hold the office for the next four years.
Read Dr. Mashiur appointed National University VC
President Abdul Hamid, also Chancellor of the university, may cancel the appointment any time if needed.
Dhaka University teachers, students demand reopening campus
The teachers and students of Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday demanded reopening residential halls, resuming classes and taking exams immediately maintaining health guidelines.
Terming the ongoing closure of educational institutions 'illogical', around 100 students and teachers under the banner of "Hall and educational institutions open movement" formed a human chain at the base of Raju Memorial sculpture on the campus.
Addressing the rally, Dr Md Asif Nazrul, Professor and Chairman of Law department, said, "If garments, shopping malls and vehicles can operate following health guidelines, why will the educational institutions remain closed? All educational institutions must be reopened by maintaining health protocols."
Read COVID-19 causes biggest disruption of education system in history.
"Affluent persons' children have sufficient means to learn from home but most students can't even manage a digital device or proper network to continue academic activities," he said.
Dr Abu Musa Md Arif Billah, Associate Professor of the Department of Persian Language and Literature, said, "The education minister changes her decision over and over, and the university authorities comply with her."
Nusrat Tabassum, a DU student of the political science department, said, "All of the students have become frustrated because of a long gap both from studies and campus environment. Most DU students were dependent on tuition, but now they are fighting to survive."
Also read: Schools, colleges to reopen on June 13: Dipu Moni
"We hope that the authorities will soon consider reopening campuses and residential halls," she said.
Moyajjem, a biochemistry student, said, "The education ministry has failed to create an effective policy during the pandemic situation. We hope the ministry will reopen our campus immediately."
"We will continue our protest until the authorities concerned announce to reopen halls and the campus," he said.
Read No assignments for secondary school students
Later, the protesters brought out a procession and marched towards the vice-chancellor's residence.
IU staff suspended after being arrested with yaba pills
The Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia Saturday suspended a staff member after police arrested him with 89 yaba pills near the campus on May 24.
The suspended official Bakul Joarder is a computer operator of the Bangladesh Cadet Corps office of the university, the IU acting registrar M Ataur Rahman said. "IU Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam issued the suspension order against Bokul after he was sent to jail through a court order."
Bakul was suspended under the university's employee efficiency and disciplinary act, Ataur added.
On May 30, 2017, he was suspended for the same reason after being arrested with 200 yaba pills.