Humayun Kabir Jibon of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and  Irfan Mahmud Rana of NTV have been elected as president and general secretary respectively of Islamic University Journalists’ Association (IUJA).

The election was held at the Press Corner adjacent to the university’s Birshrestha Hamidur Rahman Auditorium around 10:30am on Saturday.

IU Student Advisor Professor M Saidur Rahaman conducted the election as chief election commissioner while Information, Publication and Public Relations office acting director M Ataul Haque and IUJA former president M Suza Uddin were the assistant election commissioners.

After the election, IU vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam announced the result as the chief guest while pro-vice-chancellor Professor M Shahinoor Rahman, acting registrar SM Abdul Latif were present as special guests.

The other office bearers of the committee are- Humayun Kabir Shuvo of Bangladesh Post elected vice-president, Atikur Rahman Ony of Manabkantha  joint-secretary, Shahab Uddin Washim of Jaijaidin  office secretary, Emanul Shohan of Desh Rupantor  treasurer, Shahedul Islam Shahed of BSS  publicity secretary, TH Jayeem of Nayadiganta and Biplob Khandokar of Inqilab executive members.

The committee has been elected for the next one year.

Read Also: IU to take exams during corona vacation

Islamic University, Nov 6 (UNB) - The Islamic University authorities have decided to take improvement examinations of all departments in compliance with health guidelines during the COVID-19 outbreak.

A press release, signed by IU acting Controller of Examinations Abul Kalam Azad Lavlu, was issued in this regard on Thursday night.

Many departments could not take improvement or retake examinations due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Students of these departments will be able to appear in the exams on the basis of their applications and on the recommendation of the departmental academic committees.

The concerned departments will not be allowed to take the exam if there are more than 10 students.

Lavlu told UNB that the examination would be held maintaining social distance. 

“If the number of students in any course is more than 10, the concerned departments will not be allowed to take the exam,” he said, adding that they will not provide any residential facility to the students.

University Grant Commission (UGC) has decided to provide interest free loans to 41,501 insolvent  students of public universities for buying smartphone to ensure their participation in online education programmes amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each student from 39 public universities will get highest Tk 8,000 as soft loan.

The decision was taken at a virtual meeting presided over by UGC Chairman Dr Kazi Shahidullah on Wednesday.

The students recommended by Soft Loan Approval Committee will get the money in their bank accounts within January 31, next year, it said.

They have to repay the loans in four phrases after the university classes resume or during their studentship.

UGC on August 9 sought a list of insolvent students who are unable to buy smartphones from the university Vice-Chancellors who later submitted a list of 41,501 students.

In the list , the highest number students- 8,556 are from Dhaka University and the lowest number -5,860 students from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET).

National University, Bangladesh Open University, Islami Arabic  University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Chittagong Medical University (CMU), Rajshahi Medical University and Sylhet Medical University have been kept out of the loan facility.

Also read: UGC approves Tk 8,485.12 crore budget for 46 public universities

Public universities should not go for holding admission tests through the "Proctored Remote Examination System" software.

Bangladesh is still not ready to arrange such competitive exams through software.

Experts said this at a review meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday.

Holding admission tests through the "Proctored Remote Examination System" software can create confusion among students and guardians. Also, assessments of most of the students may be inaccurate because of network problems and technical glitches, they said.

No country in the world conducts such large-scale exams with a single software, the experts said while recommending the UGC to formulate a policy in case of taking admission tests through software.

Professor Dr Munaz Ahmed Noor, the vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, showed different sides of his "Proctored Remote Examination System" software at the meeting.

This software was primarily designed for assessing the internal exams of the universities. It is not the right one for holding online university admission tests now, Dr Munaz said.

The chairman of the Arabic language and literature department of Islamic University in Kushtia resigned on Tuesday.

He made the decision just three after days after recommending the expulsion of a student for making anti-Islamic remarks.

A Facebook post of Saifullah Al-Hadi, a third-year student of his department, went viral on Friday. Saifullah made derogatory remarks about Makkah and Zamzam Well in his post.

Meanwhile, the university's acting registrar SM Abdul Latif said Arabic language and literature department chairman Moshtaq Mohammad Abdul Moktader Munwar Ali submitted a resignation letter to him showing personal reasons.

But many Islamic University teachers and students said a vested quarter might have threatened Munwar Ali for recommending the permanent expulsion of the student. 

However, the academic said the key reason behind his resignation was family issues. "I did not receive any threat."

Read Also: Islamic University student diagnosed with coronavirus in Jashore