United News of Bangladesh

The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia have suspended five students for their involvement in a bus vandalism incident at the university's main gate in January. Two students were suspended for one year, while the remaining three received six-month suspensions. The decision was announced on Saturday through official orders signed by IU Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Manjurul Haque. It was approved at the university’s 270th Syndicate meeting, held on campus on August 28. The one-year suspensions were handed to Shahriar Nazim of the Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering department (2019–20 academic session) and Mostafizur Rahman Sayem of the Marketing department (2021–22 academic session). The six-month suspensions were issued to Abdul Mannan Luman, Syed Sajid Hossain, and Takbir Hasan Hridoy — all from the Marketing department under the 2021–22 academic session. The incident occurred on January 22, when the accused students stopped a bus belonging to SB Paribahan at the university's main entrance over complaints of misconduct by the bus supervisor. During the confrontation, several students vandalised the bus. When coordinators of the university’s anti-discrimination student movement tried to intervene, a scuffle broke out. A four-member investigation committee was formed following the incident.

Vote counting in Jahangirnagar University (JU) Central Student Union (JUCSU) election concluded 42 hours after the end of balloting. Voting was scheduled to end at 5 pm on Thursday (Sept 11) at the Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall but due to long queues polling continued until 9 pm. The counting of votes finally ended at 2:40 pm. Informal results suggested that the panel backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir is leading in 21 out of 25 positions. Tight races are being reported for four key posts—Vice President (VP), Cultural Affairs Secretary, Sports Secretary and Social Welfare Secretary. Independent candidates are leading in three positions while Bagchas-backed candidate Ahsan Labib is ahead for Social Welfare Secretary. Independent candidate Abdur Rashid Jitu is leading the VP race by a margin of around 800 votes over Shibir-backed Arif Ullah while in the Cultural Secretary race, Jisan Ahmed Jisu is ahead of Shibir panel’s Ali Zaki Shahriar. In the race for Sports Secretary, independent candidate Mahmudul Hasan Kiran is leading against Shibir panel’s Shafiuzzaman Shaheen. Though the BNP-backed panel boycotted the election earlier, their nominated Assistant General Secretary (Women) candidate Anjuman Ara Ikra urged students to accept the results in the greater interest of the student body. JUCSU polls: Official results to be announced by 7pm today She came up with the urge in her facebook post on Friday night. In her post, she wrote, “Regardless of the outcome, we were committed to ensuring fair voting for the students. Despite open irregularities and rigging by the administration, we must accept this verdict for the sake of the students.” She further urged BNP student wing leaders to focus on their mistakes and moving forward. Vote counting of the election began on the night of September 11 after it ended amid allegations of ballot stuffing and administrative bias. A total of 11,743 students were eligible to cast their votes in the election, with turnout reaching around 67-68 percent. A total of eight full and partial panels contested this year’s JUCSU election, though several later pulled out of the race. The panels that boycotted the polls include the BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Sampritir Oikya, Swatantra Angikar Parishad, Songshoptak Parishad, and candidates from the Socialist Student Front. Some independent candidates also withdrew from the election. Among those who stayed in the race were the Jamaat-backed Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported “Combined Students’ Alliance,” the “Student Unity Forum” backed by Ganatantrik Chhatra Sansad, and the independent “Students’ Sammilon” led by former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Abdur Rashid Jitu.

Jahangirnagar University’s Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, Jannatul Ferdous Soumita, was laid to rest in her hometown of Arifpur, Pabna, on Friday night. Soumita’s second funeral prayer was held at the Kacharipara Jame Masjid in her neighborhood at 8:30 PM. Later, her body was then taken to Arifpur graveyard, where she was buried around 9 PM. Earlier, at 7:40 PM, the  ambulance arrived at her home, bringing an overwhelming sense of grief. Family members, including her parents and relatives, were seen in deep sorrow as they wept by her side. Family sources revealed that Soumita had gotten married in January this year in a family ceremony. The family had hoped to host a grand wedding for their only daughter. Namaz-e-Janaza of JU teacher Jannatul Ferdous held Jannatul Ferdous Soumita was the only daughter of well-known Pabna journalist, former president of the Pabna Press Club, and retired Assistant Professor Rumi Khondkar and former Assistant Professor of Pabna College, Lutfunahar Polly. Born in 1995, Soumita was a bright student from an early age. She completed her SSC from Pabna Government Girls' School in 2009, and then HSC with a golden GPA-5 from Pabna Women’s College in 2011. She went on to study at Jahangirnagar University, where she completed her Honours and Masters before starting as a lecturer at the Fine Arts Faculty in 2021. Rumi Khondkar, Soumita's father, shared that after completing her election duties, she returned to the teacher’s quarters around midnight. The next morning, she was called to the vote counting room, but before she could enter, she collapsed at the door. Sadly, she passed away shortly after.  

Professor Mafruhi Sattar, an election commissioner for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election, resigned from his position on Friday evening. He made the announcement at a press conference in front of the New Arts Faculty. Professor Sattar said he decided to resign after facing disrespect. He implied that his suggestions were ignored and the vote counting was restarted without addressing his concerns. "I never want to put anyone in trouble, but my opinions were not considered," he said. Professor Sattar is also the acting Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences and a professor in the Pharmacy Department at JU. In addition to his academic roles, Professor Sattar serves as the president of the Nationalist Teachers' Forum at the university. JUCSU: Vote counting completed in 20 halls The vote counting for the Jahangirnagar University Central Student Council (JUCSU) election, held on September 11 from 9 AM to 5 PM, has still not been completed, even after more than 28 hours of manual counting.

An 8-year-old madrasa student died after being electrocuted in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj on Friday afternoon.The deceased was identified as Mohammad Baizid, son of Billal Hossain of Charshimulia village under Guagachia union. He was a student of “Ampara” class at Choto Basurchar Nurania Hafezia Madrasa, where he lived as a residential student. The accident occurred around 3 pm on the rooftop of the madrasa’s second floor. Union-level police camp in Munshiganj to become permanent soon: Home Affairs AdviserAccording to madrasa teachers, Baizid went missing before lunch after Juma prayers, so they started searching and found lying unconscious on the rooftop.He was rushed to Gazaria Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. “He had died before being brought to the hospital,” said Liaqat Hossain, an emergency unit physician. Gazaria Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Anwar Alam Azad said, “An inquest report has been prepared. We are also checking if there was any negligence on the part of the madrasa authorities. Legal action is underway.”  

Vote counting for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) hall elections has been completed in 20 halls, with only Taramon Bibi Hall pending. According to unofficial results, Shabab was elected vice-president (VP), Riad general secretary (GS), and Arafat assistant general secretary (AGS) from Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall. From Bhashani Hall, Abdul Hai Swapon was elected VP, Hridoy Poddar GS and Rakib AGS. In Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall, Rakibul Islam secured the VP post, Ali Ahmed GS and Labib AGS. From Hall No. 10 (formerly Mujib Hall), Asif Mia was elected VP, Mehedi Hasan GS and Nadim Mahmud AGS.

The namaz-e-janaza of Jannatul Ferdous, assistant professor at Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Fine Arts who died while on election duty, was held on the university campus after Jumma prayers on Friday. The janaza took place at the central playground attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan, teachers from various departments of the university, including the Department of Philosophy, and her colleagues. In addition, VP candidates from various panels also participated in the prayer. Colleagues remembered her as a dedicated academic and a kind soul who was deeply involved in both teaching and student affairs. JUCSU election results expected between 8pm and 10pm Jannatul fell ill and collapsed at the Election Commission office on campus around 9 am on Friday while inquiring about the ongoing vote counting process for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections, where she was serving as a polling officer. She was immediately rushed to Savar Enam Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared her dead upon arrival. A former student of Jahangirnagar University, Jannatul Ferdous completed her BFA and MFA in Painting from the Department of Fine Art in 2016 and 2018, respectively. She later joined the department as a lecturer and was known for her academic commitment and research interests in painting, Muslim art, and the history of art.

Results of the long-awaited Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election are expected to be announced between 8pm and 10pm today. The Election Commission member secretary, Prof AKM Rashidul Alam, made the announcement. Vote counting of the election began on the night of September 11. The election ended amid allegations of ballot stuffing and administrative bias. The voting began at 9am on Thursday and was scheduled to end at 5pm. In some centers, voting had ended later than scheduled. As of Friday afternoon, vote counting was still underway. A total of 11,743 students were eligible to cast their votes in the election, with turnout reaching around 67-68 percent. A total of eight full and partial panels contested this year’s JUCSU election, though several later pulled out of the race. Namaz-e-janaza of JU teacher to be held after Jumma prayers The panels that boycotted the polls include the BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Sampritir Oikya, Swatantra Angikar Parishad, Songshoptak Parishad, and candidates from the Socialist Student Front. Some independent candidates also withdrew from the election. Among those who stayed in the race were the Jamaat-backed Islami Chhatra Shibir-supported “Combined Students’ Alliance,” the “Student Unity Forum” backed by Ganatantrik Chhatra Sansad, and the independent “Students’ Sammilon” led by former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Abdur Rashid Jitu. This year, 177 candidates contested 25 posts in the central union. Nine candidates vied for the position of vice president (VP), while eight competed for the general secretary (GS) post. In the women’s 10 residential halls, 59 out of 150 posts had no candidates, while 67 posts had only one candidate each, resulting in elections being held for just 24 posts. In two of the university’s 21 halls, all candidates were elected unopposed.

The namaz-e-janaza of Jannatul Ferdous, a Jahangirnagar University teacher who died while on election duty, will be held after Jumma prayers on Friday in front of the university’s Central Mosque. Associate Professor Shamim Reza, president of the Department of Fine Arts, confirmed it. However, the location of her burial has not yet been decided. Jannatul, an assistant professor in the Department of Fine Arts, had been serving as a polling officer during the ongoing JUCSU and hall union elections. According to witnesses, she collapsed around 9:am on Friday at the Election Commission office on campus after suddenly falling ill. She was immediately taken to Savar Enam Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared her dead upon arrival. Jannatul completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2016 and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in 2018 from the same department at Jahangirnagar University. Her academic interests included painting, Muslim art, and the history of art.

A teacher of Jahangirnagar University died on Friday morning while on duty during the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections. The deceased was identified as Jannatul Ferdous, assistant professor in the Department of Fine Arts. She had been serving as a polling officer at Pritilata Hall. Associate Professor Shamim Reza, president of the Fine Arts Department, said the incident occurred around 9am, when Jannatul Ferdous visited the Election Commission office on campus to inquire about the status of the ongoing vote-counting process. While there, she suddenly fell ill and collapsed on the floor. She was immediately rushed to Savar Enam Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared her dead upon arrival. Jannatul Ferdous completed her MFA and BFA at Department of Fine Art (Painting Discipline), Jahangirnagar University in 2018 and 2016. Her research interests include Painting, Muslim Art and History of Art.