United News of Bangladesh

The university administration has decided to prohibit all political activities by students, teachers, officials, and employees on the Dhaka University campus until further notice. This decision was made during an emergency Syndicate meeting held at the Vice-Chancellor's Lounge in the administrative building on Thursday. Multiple Syndicate members confirmed the information following the meeting. The meeting was chaired by DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, and attended by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Mamun Ahmed, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Sayma Haque Bidisha, and Treasurer Professor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, among other Syndicate members, upon the Vice-Chancellor's invitation. According to a Syndicate member, wishing to remain anonymous, the meeting was held from 7 pm to 8:45 pm before the decision was reached. Another Syndicate member noted that while the primary focus of the meeting was on student politics, the decision extended the ban to all political activities involving students, teachers, officials, and employees.

Prof AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan from the Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has been appointed as the 26th Vice-Chancellor of the university for next four years. The Ministry of Education issued a notification in this regard on Thursday, Bhuiyan previously served as the Dean of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and the Convenor of the Dean's Council at BAU. He has also held the position of President of the university's branch of the Agriculturalist Association of Bangladesh (AAB) and has been an elected representative of the university's teachers' association on several occasions.

Shamim Ahmed alias Shamim Molla, a former leader of the  Jahangirnagar University Chhatra League, has died from injuries he had suferred after being lynched by a student mob on the campus. He died on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at Savar's Gonoshasthaya Samajbhittik Medical College Hospital. Doctor on duty at the hospital Selimuzzaman Sujan confirmed this information. Dr. Selimuzzaman said, "He was brought to the hospital around 9:30 pm. We checked and found him dead. The cause of his death can be confirmed after post-mortem." Ashulia Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Md. Kamal Hossain also confirmed Shamim's death. Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, a group of students beat up and injured Shamim Mollah on Jahangirnagar University campus. He was later handed over first to the University Proctoral Body and later to the police, witnesses said. According to university sources, Shamim Molla lived in the area next to the university. He is alleged to have been involved in the attacks on students at the Vice-Chancellor's residence on the night of July 15 during the anti-discrimination student movement. The attacks were allegedly carried out by Chhatra League and outsiders. According to witnesses and security officials, Shamim Molla was caught in a shop near the University's Joy Bangla gate on Wednesday afternoon. On hearing the news, a group of university students went there and starting beating him up.  Later, the university's proctorial team reached the spot. At one point, he was brought to the security wing with the help of security personnel. Then a team of Ashulia police station came to the security office on the information of the proctorial team. Meanwhile, the police and proctorial team interrogated Shamim about the attack on the vice-chancellor's residence on the night of July 15. Later he was handed over to Ashulia police on previously registered case.

Authorities at Dhaka University on Thursday formed a seven-member committee to investigate the death of a man in mob lynching inside the university's Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall.  The victim, Tofazzal, was beaten to death allegedly by a group of students of the hall suspecting him as a thief, hospital and university sources said. "We are shocked at the death of the man," said Dhaka University Proctor Mohammad Saifuddin Ahmed. He said that a seven-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident and submit its report by this evening.  According to witnesses, the man sneaked into the hall on Wednesday evening. Some students then caught and interrogated him about the theft of six mobile phones and wallets from the hall the previous day. Under intense questioning, the man agreed to tell them about the real thieves provided they give him something to eat.   The students fed him, but the man failed to give the promised names. Then the angry students then beat the man for two hours starting from 10 pm, according to the witnesses.  When the proctorial team got informed about the matter, it went to the spot and took the severely injured Tofazzal to hospital for treatment. The doctors declared him dead.  Tofazzal, according to some in Dhaka University campus, was a mentally unstable person.  The deceased Tofazzal hailed from Kathaltoli union of Pathorghata upazila of Barguna district and he lost his parents long ago. The proctor said they are preparing to file a police case. He said the probe committee is headed by residential teacher of Fazlul Haque Muslim hall Dr. Alomgir Kabir. Six other members of the probe committee are Dr. Mohammad Shafiul Alam Khan, Prof. Johir Raihan, Mohammad Mahabub Alam, Dr. Asib Ahmed, and Dr. Touhidul Islam and AKM Nure Alam Siddique.

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has appointed a new vice chancellor, pro-VC, and treasurer to the institution. The appointments were made under the order of President Md. Sahabuddin, with separate notifications issued on Wednesday. Dr AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury, a professor of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Dhaka University, has been appointed as the new VCr; Dr. Md. Sajedul Karim, of the Mathematics Department at SUST, will take on the role of Pro VC. The position of treasurer has been filled by Dr Md Ismail Hossain of the Social Work department at SUST. The appointments are set for a term of four years, during which the new officials will be entitled to salaries, allowances, and other benefits as per the current regulations. These appointments come in the wake of significant administrative changes at SUST. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, all top administrative positions, including the Vice-Chancellor, were vacated in response to student protests.

Professor Dr Muhammad Yahia Akhtar, a retired professor from the Department of Political Science at Chittagong University (CU), has been appointed as the acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university. In recent days, students had been protesting for a quick appointment of a Vice-Chancellor. A notification in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday. Previously, on August 12, facing demands for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and other administrative officials, VC Prof Dr. Md. Abu Taher and two Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Professor Benu Kumar Dey and Professor Sekandar Chowdhury, resigned. Since then, Chittagong University has been without administration for more than a month.

Professor Dr Md Rezaul Karim of the Department of Social Work at Jagannath University has been appointed as the seventh Vice-Chancellor of the university. A notification issued on Thursday confirmed the appointment following an order from the President. His tenure will last for four years from the date of joining, during which he will receive the same salary and benefits as his previous position before retirement, along with additional benefits applicable to the role. Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim completed his PhD at the University of Tsukuba, Japan. He has previously served as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Chairman of the Department of Social Work at Jagannath University. Prior to that, he held the position of Chairman of the Department of Social Work and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Rajshahi University, and served as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Khulna University. Rezaul Karim earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Welfare from the University of Dhaka. He joined Jagannath University as a faculty member in 2008.

The government on Tuesday appointed Prof Dr Mohammad Shamsul Alam as vice chancellor of Islamic Arabic University for the next four years. A gazette notification, signed by Md Shahinur Islam, deputy secretary at the Secondary and Higher Secondary Division of the Ministry of Education, was issued in this regard. Prof Shamsul Alam, a teacher of Islamic Studies department of Dhaka University, was appointed upon approval by the President and Chancellor of the university following Section-111 of Islamic Arabic University Act-2013.

Within a few hours of issuing a one day-ultimatum to appoint a vice chancellor (VC) for Chittagong University (CU), students on Tuesday afternoon again announced a “complete shutdown” demanding the appointment immediately. At a protest rally held on Shaheed Minar premises of the university, student Neyamat Ullah Farabi announced it in the afternoon. "We're supposed to be at the reading table and in the classroom. But such a deadlock has been created that we have been forced to take to the streets leaving our studies. Those who are adopting diplomacy over the appointment of VCs will not be spared. They have to answer to the nation," he alleged. ' He announced, "We are announcing a complete shutdown of the campus until the VC's notification comes. From now on, the administrative building and the two main gates of the university will be closed. The Vice-Chancellor himself will come and open the lock and enter the campus. We will not allow this to continue." Earlier on Tuesday noon, students formed a human chain and blocked the main gate of the campus, demanding the appointment of a VC and other key administrative positions by Wednesday. During the protest, students warned of tougher measures if their demands were not met within a day. They gathered at the main gate of the university's Zero Point around noon holding the human chain for nearly two hours. The students expressed their frustration, stating, “We have faced discrimination in the past, and we have ousted the fascist government. We no longer want to be treated unfairly. While Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, and Rajshahi universities have VCs, CU is left without one, despite our leading role in movements like the quota reform protests and government ousting.” They further added, “A mass uprising has occurred through the self-sacrifice of students. Even though VCs have been appointed at Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, and Rajshahi universities, CU remains without a VC, leaving it without leadership and disrupting both academic and administrative functions. Despite repeated ultimatums, there has been no resolution. If a VC is not appointed quickly, we will intensify our protests starting tomorrow.” On August 12, under pressure from students, CU’s VC Prof Dr. Abu Taher, along with the proctorial body and all hall provosts, resigned. Since then, the university has been operating without a VC for over a month, significantly disrupting academic and administrative activities. Students have been protesting continuously for the past five days, starting on September 8, demanding the immediate appointment of a VC and a Pro VC. Sohrawardi Azad Suman, a former student and PhD researcher, remarked on the situation, “It is very unfortunate that while most universities in the country have appointed Vice-Chancellors, Chittagong University has not. This has led to stagnation at the university. It is crucial to appoint a Vice-Chancellor and other administrative positions as soon as possible to resume educational activities. I support the students’ demands.”

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London conferred an ‘Honorary Doctorate’ to internationally acclaimed economist and Emeritus Professor of the University of Dhaka Dr. Atiur Rahman recently. The ceremony was held at the friends' house, Easton Road, London, where SOAS University of London’s President Zainab Badawi formally handed over the certificate to Dr. Rahman, according to a press release. Lord Michael Hastings, CBE, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University made the welcome remarks. Along with newly graduated students from the University, Dr. Satoshi Miyamura (Economics) and Dr. Yanis Dafermos (Reader in Economics) were present at the event. The university declared nomination of Dr. Rahman for the said honorary degree last May for his contributions towards poverty alleviation as an economist and as the founder chairperson of the think tank organization Unnayan Shamannay. The university specially considered Dr. Rahman’s role in pushing forward financial inclusion and climate-friendly finance while he served as the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. Dr. Rahman is the first Bangladesh citizen to receive this award. Vice Chancellor of the SOAS University of London- Professor Adam Habib made the closing remarks at the event. In his remarks, after receiving the award, Dr. Atiur Rahman reaffirmed his willingness to continue to work for expanding climate-friendly financial services. Later, he delivered a special public lecture titled “Central Banking and Climate Change: The Bangladesh Case” at the Brunei House within the SOAS University Campus. University students, teachers, and researchers participated in the event which was conducted by Dr. Yanis Dafermos. In this keynote presentation, Dr. Rahman highlighted the importance of the climate-friendly role of central banks and monetary policy in the current context along with delineating Bangladesh’s achievements and challenges regarding green and sustainable finance.