United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Education Board Chairman Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar has resigned. Prof Tapan said he submitted his resignation letter to Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department Secretary. Earlier on Sunday night, he announced his resignation after a section of HSC examinees besieged the board office remanding re-evaluation. A group of students under the banner of ‘HSC-Batch 2024’ entered the Dhaka Education Board premises and staged a demonstration opposing the HSC results terming it ‘discriminatory’. Terming the results as discriminatory the students demanded the government to publish the results through mapping of all subjects. On October 15, the results of HSC and its equivalent examinations were published.

Several students were injured in an attack allegedly by some staff of Dhaka Education Board when they were staging demonstration protesting the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations through subject mapping. Witnesses said a group of students under the banner of ‘HSC-Batch 2024’ entered the Dhaka Education Board premises and staged demonstration opposing the HSC results terming it ‘discriminatory’. Four of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Protests grip Begum Rokeya University over teasing of female student by outsiders Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, Chairman of Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, said the students who failed to pass the examinations were staging protests.  

Eight people were injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur on Saturday. Abdul Gafur, officer in charge of Birganj Police Station, confirmed the matter. Four injured during BNP factional clash in Gazipur The injured are BNP Municipal Committee Vice-President Habibur Rahman Hablu, Chhatra Dal Leader Mahfuzur Rahman Babu, and Swechhasebak Dal members Sujan Ali, Babu, Ekram Ali, Salim Reza, Tanvir Chowdhury, and Akash Chowdhury. Five of the injured have been admitted to Birganj Upazila Health Complex and Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. The confrontation began around 4:00 pm centring on a rally of Sujalpur Union Committee No. 5 of Juba Dal, where supporters of BNP upazila committee leader Manjurul Islam Manjur clashed with those of general secretary Zakir Hossain Dhalu. In response to the attack, both groups marched through the city with sticks. Efforts are being made to de-escalate the situation and maintain law and order, said the OC. Following the clash, tensions remain high in the area. BNP factional clash leaves two brothers dead in Narail Additionally, two factions of the Phulbari Upazila BNP also clashed, chanting slogans against one another.

Although 20 are still vacant admission aspirants at Jahangirnagar University (JU) are unable to secure a spot, as the university administration has stopped the admission process ahead of the start of classes for the 2023-24 academic session on October 20, leaving hopeful students frustrated. According to the JU admissions office, the fifth merit list was published on September 15, yet 20 seats in various faculties remain unfilled. In the ‘A’ unit, male students up to merit position 2158 get admission, leaving six seats vacant. Similarly, female students up to rank 659 were admitted, with six more seats still open. In the ‘C’ unit's science division, female students up to rank 199 have been admitted, but two seats are yet to be filled. Times Higher Education Ranking: NSU is among top 5 universities in Bangladesh One of the hopefuls, Ummey Hani, ranked 202nd in the merit list, is waiting for a chance. "If the sixth merit list is published, I will be able to secure one of the vacant seats," she said. "I've taken the admission test for JU twice, and now, despite vacant seats, we are not being given the chance to study. Leaving these seats empty doesn't make sense, and it's disappointing." Hani, alongside several other students, visited the campus on September 17, 18, and 19 to discuss the matter with the university's admissions office. Syed Ali Reza, head of the admissions office, said they were informed that no further admission would be accepted. The group was directed to meet the Vice Chancellor, but their request for a meeting was denied. Sheikh Kahrooba Munira Mughdha, ranked 663rd in the 'A' unit merit list, expressed similar frustration. "Despite vacant seats, we are being denied admission," she said. "I waited outside the Vice Chancellor's office, hoping for a solution, but was met with hostility from the staff." Syed Ali Reza explained that the initial class start date was July 21 but was deferred to September 30 due to student protests, leaving 50 seats vacant. Even after publishing the fifth merit list, around 20 seats remained unfilled. "We decided to conclude the admission process in accordance with the central admission committee's decision to avoid complications for students and faculty," he said. Classes resume at Chittagong University after three months Reza added that some students withdrew from their courses, triggering automatic subject migration, which caused confusion and administrative challenges. "Since 2018, we have concluded admissions before classes begin, even if seats remain vacant, to avoid further complications," he noted. However, many students believe that the university staff's reluctance to work is the real reason for ending the admission process prematurely. Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman acknowledged flaws in the admission process, attributing it to the unit-based exam system. "Previously, students took exams for specific subjects, but now they are being assigned subjects they didn't opt for. This mismatch leads to many students leaving, and every year, 150-200 seats remain vacant after classes begin. If the subject-specific exams were reinstated, the situation would improve, and it would be easier to fill the vacancies from the waiting list," he said.

Prof Dr Md Alimul Islam, a professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), has been appointed as new vice chancellor (VC) of Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU). A notification, signed by Mst. Rokshana Begum, deputy secretary at scholarship and engineering universities section under the Ministry of Education, was issued in this regard on Thursday. Dr Alimul, a faculty member at Microbiology and Hygiene department of the BAU, has been appointed upon approval by the President and Chancellor of the university following section 10 (1) of the SAU Act-2006. He completed graduation and post-graduation from Veterinary faculty of the BAU and did his PhD from the same university. The microbiologist also earned his post-doctorate from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Japan. According to the university, he has 183 national and international scientific publications.

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has suspended Dr. Md. Harun-or-Rashid, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, allegedly for sexually harassing a Malaysian female student. BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan confirmed the matter on Wednesday. According to university sources, Dr. Md. Harun-or-Rashid was suspended based on the report and recommendations of the investigation committee presented at an urgent syndicate meeting held on Monday afternoon. BAU students can now submit complaints online and offline as university seeks to address past misconduct The professor was served a show-cause notice and asked to respond within10 days. The syndicate also decided to investigate incidents of violence against women and sexual harassment in different times. Meanwhile, various organizations, including the Legal Aid Sub-Committee of the Bangladesh Women's Council and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, demanded appropriate punishment based on thorough investigation. Besides, the Malaysian Embassy in Dhaka sent a letter to the university administration requesting the investigation report. On September 25, a Malaysian female student accused Harun of sexual harassment. In response to the allegation, a five-member investigation committee was formed. During the investigation, general students of the university organised human chains and protest rallies, demanding a fair investigation and exemplary punishment for the accused teacher.

Students of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur staged protests on the campus late Tuesday night over the teasing of a female student allegedly by some outsiders.     They also blocked the Dhaka-Kurigram road for some time disrupting traffic. Two outsiders harassed a female student near the main gate of Begum Rokeya University on Tuesday evening. Three students from the university’s Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Abdullah Al Mamun, Mostafa Kamal, and Bidhan Roy, protested against the harassment. Student movement to lay siege to High Court on Wed At this time, the two outsiders called 10-15 more people and beat up students Mamun and Mostafa Kamal. With the situation deteriorating more university students from various departments intervened, leading to a clash between the two groups. During the fighting three more university students were injured. In protest, the students blocked the Dhaka-Kurigram road, demanding arrest of the outsiders and justice for the harassment. Later, around 12 am, the two perpetrators were apprehended by the students and handed over to the university administration. The blockade was lifted after the vice-chancellor assured the students that appropriate punishment would be given to those responsible. Students protest market prices, demand Competition Commission resignations Shamsur Rahman Sumon, a student of the university, mentioned that  outsiders from the university neighbourhood  frequently cause disturbances on the campus, including theft and mugging. In the past, these individuals would evade punishment by using political influence, but this time the students were determined to take action, he added. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Showkat Ali said that the two apprehended outsiders are currently in the custody of the university proctor. They are being interrogated, and discussions have been held with the police and administration. Those responsible must be punished through the law, said VC.

Dinajpur education board has witnessed a slight increase in the overall pass percentage this year compared to last year. The number of GPA-5 achievers was 7, 836 more than last year. A total of 14, 265 students secured the highest point in terms of the GPA-5 this year. Like every year, girls outshone boys in the board in both pass percentage and GPA-5. The education board Chairman Prof SM Abdus Samad Azad revealed these at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Exam controller Prof Mir Sajjad Ali and others were present there. The board chairman said students could sit for seven subjects amid the adverse atmosphere this year and their results were evaluated on those. Read: 31% HSC students fail in English under Jashore Board, pass rate drops Under the board, 86,954 students out of 112, 115 from 665 educational institutions came out successfully, he said.This year’s pass percentage was 77.56 percent, an increase of 3.08 percent of last year, he said, adding that 8,110 girls got the GPA-5 while the number for the boys was only 6, 185. The pass percentage of the boys was 73.97 percent while the girls outnumbered them by 704 percent. There were 20 colleges under the board where no students passed this year.

The pass rate for this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams under the Jashore Education Board dropped, with 31% of students failing in English. The overall pass rate also fell compared to last year, causing a significant dip in results. According to the board authorities, the rise in the failure rate in English has negatively impacted the overall performance of the board. The results published by Jashore Board show that out of 1 lakh 22 thousands 511 students who appeared for the 2024 HSC exams, only 78, 764 passed, resulting in a pass rate of 64.29%. In comparison, the pass rate in 2023 was 69.88%. However, the number of students achieving GPA-5 has increased, with 9, 749 students securing the top grade. 65 institutions see zero pass rate in HSC exams On Tuesday at 11 a.m., Jashore Education Board Chairman Marjina Akter announced the results during a press conference in the board’s conference room. Exam Controller Professor Dr. Biswas Shahin Ahmed was also present at the event. Jashore Board Chairman Marjina Akter noted that the increased failure rate in English significantly affected the overall results. She attributed this to the learning gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented students from attending regular classes for a year and a half. Additionally, 13 educational institutions under the Jashore Board achieved a 100% pass rate, while seven institutions saw all their students fail. Speaking about the results, Dr. Biswas Shahin Ahmed, the Exam Controller, also highlighted that the 31% failure rate in English had a substantial impact on the overall pass rate.

For many HSC graduates, studying abroad is a dream that promises both academic and personal growth. The opportunity to gain global exposure, access world-class education, and build a successful career drives this ambition. However, realizing this dream requires careful planning, from exams to documentation. Let’s explore this comprehensive guide outlining the essential preparation for higher education opportunities abroad for students after HSC. Standardized Exams or Aptitude Tests To pursue undergraduate studies abroad, students must often take standardized exams that evaluate academic readiness. Globally recognized tests include the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) and ACT (American College Testing), which assess critical reading, writing, and mathematical skills. A competitive SAT score generally ranges from 1200 to 1400, while the ACT requires scores between 25 to 30 for top-tier universities. Certain regions, such as the UK (United Kingdom), may require specific exams like the UCAS (UCAS) Tariff or A-Levels. In addition, specific institutions may demand Subject Tests, previously part of the SAT but now integrated into university-specific admission processes. Fields like engineering or medicine might require additional exams, such as the BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) or UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) for medical studies in the UK. Preparing for these exams well in advance, alongside identifying university-specific testing requirements, is essential for securing admission into competitive programs. Read more: Higher Studies in Italy: Application Process, Costs, Student Visa, Scholarships, and Benefits Language Proficiency Exams For non-native English-speaking students, demonstrating proficiency in English is mandatory at almost all international universities. Accepted tests encompass the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), PTE (Pearson Test of English), and Duolingo. Universities in countries such as the United States, the UK, Canada, and Australia typically require an IELTS score between 6.0 and 7.5, or a TOEFL score ranging from 80 to 100. Institutions in some European countries may accept English language proficiency based on high school English results but still recommend formal test scores for admission. For studies in non-English speaking countries, students may also need to demonstrate proficiency in the local language. For example, universities in Germany often require students to pass the TestDaF or DSH for German proficiency. In France, the DALF (Diploma in Advanced French Language) exams assess French language skills. Read more: How to Register for IELTS Exam in Bangladesh Documents Preparation Applying to undergraduate programs abroad requires meticulous documentation. The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a key element, outlining the applicant’s academic goals, long-term career vision, and reasons for selecting a particular university or program. This document must be well-structured and tailored to each application, highlighting unique attributes and qualifications that align with the program's focus. Letters of Recommendation (LORs), typically provided by high school teachers or mentors, play a crucial role in validating the student’s academic performance and character. Most universities require two to three LORs, each providing an in-depth assessment of the student’s abilities and potential for success in higher education. Additionally, a carefully curated resume/CV summarizing academic achievements, leadership roles, and community service can further strengthen an application. Some universities may request a personal essay or motivation letter, offering students another opportunity to explain their passion for their chosen field of study. Read more: Higher Studies in England: Application, Study Cost, Scholarship, and Other Scopes Collecting Academic Documents Before applying to universities abroad, it is crucial to gather and organize all required academic documents. Essential materials include HSC certificates, marksheets, and transcripts. These documents must be certified as true copies by a recognized authority, such as the Board of Intermediate Education or a school principal. These documents also need to be prepared with official translations if they are not in English. The translation should be processed through certified translation services, whether by the Ministry of Education or a notary public. In addition to academic records, extracurricular certificates demonstrating involvement in sports, community service, or arts should be compiled and verified for authenticity, if necessary. Keeping both digital and physical copies of all essential documents in an organized manner will facilitate a smoother application process. Read more: Studying for Bachelor’s in Romania: Application Process, Costs, Scholarships, and Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students Essential Life Skills Developing some fundamental life skills is vital for students preparing to live independently abroad. Basic cooking skills are necessary, as many students will need to prepare their own meals. Learning to cook a few staple dishes can ease the transition to self-sufficiency. Driving is another useful skill, especially in countries where public transportation may not be readily available. Obtaining a driving license and becoming familiar with basic road safety and regulations can prove beneficial. However, students should obtain an international driving permit. Beyond these, practical skills such as swimming and first aid are valuable for personal safety and health. Being able to respond to emergencies or handle minor injuries can be vital when living away from home. Read more: Essential Skills to Learn Before Going to Study Abroad Searching for Undergraduate Scholarships Financing education abroad is often a concern, but there are numerous scholarships available for international students. Dedicated scholarship portals provide a wealth of opportunities based on a student’s destination, field of study, and academic merit. Some of the most useful platforms are as follows: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/  https://www.idp.com/  https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/daad-scholarships/  https://www.fastweb.com/  https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarship-search  https://www.scholars4dev.com/ In Conclusion Preparing for higher studies abroad after HSC requires thorough planning, from excelling in entrance and language proficiency exams to organizing essential documents like transcripts and recommendations. Developing practical life skills, such as cooking and driving, ensures a smooth transition to independent living. Additionally, exploring various scholarship opportunities can ease the financial burden. Following these steps will help students maximize their chances of success in pursuing undergraduate studies at international institutions. Read more: Studying for Bachelor’s Degree in Hungary: Cost, Scholarships, Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students