Education
UGC allocates nearly Tk 160 cr for Islamic University
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved a budget of nearly Tk 160 crore for Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia for the 2022-23 financial year.
Of Tk 159.69 crore, Tk 1.42 crore (0.89 per cent) has been allocated as expenses for research this year, according to a university release.
IU treasurer Prof Alamgir Hossain Bhuiya said that they had proposed a budget of Tk 210.40 crore to the UGC but it approved Tk 159.69 crore for the university.
Also Read: RU student suspended for harassing teacher
RU student suspended for harassing teacher
Rajshahi University (RU) has suspended a student of the Law Department allegedly for harassing a teacher of the same department.
The suspended student is Md Ashiqullah, a master's student, said university proctor Prof Ashabul Haque Wednesday afternoon.
Read:RU student assaulted ‘by BCL men’
“The student has been suspended according to the decision of the university's disciplinary committee and the syndicate,” he said.
Ashiqullah was confined to the department chairman’s room for two hours by the fellow students soon after he harassed Prof Asma Siddiqa. The teachers and students of the department later handed him over to the university administration.
Professor Asma Siddiqa said, “When I was about to leave the 4th year class, Ashiqullah blocked my way. When he asked me for a solution to an internal matter of the department, I asked him to talk to Chairman sir. But he misbehaved with me without hearing my advice.”
Read: Two more held for attack on RU student
Professor Hasibul Alam Pradhan, chairman of the Law Department, said, “We have taken action against the accused student.”
Meanwhile, students of the department staged a sit-in programme in front of the administrative building to press home their three-point demand including Ashiqullah’s expulsion.
DUTA protests humiliation, killing of teacher
Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) has issued an official press release protesting and condemning the killing and humiliating teachers.
"Recently, two different incidents of teacher torture have come to the notice of the Dhaka University Teachers' Association. Swapan Kumar Biswas, principal of Mirzapur United College in Narail Sadar Upazila, has been accused of harboring so-called blasphemers in an incident on June 18," the press release reads.
Read: College teacher ‘beaten by students with cricket stump’ dies in Savar
"In another incident, Utpal Kumar Sarkar, a college teacher in Ashulia, Savar, died on June 26 while undergoing treatment at the ICU after being beaten by his students."
"In both cases there is a complete breakdown of social tolerance. In recent times, the indifference of a class of people towards religion has been hurting the non-communal consciousness and values of the country. We believe that religious intolerance is being perpetrated as part of a misguided attempt to confuse the common people for hindering the development and progress of the state," the press release says.
DUTA also demanded a quick response to the administration to provide exemplary punishment for those who are involved in such heinous and illegal activities.
DU students demand justice for Tangail boy Shihab's murder
A section of students from Dhaka University (DU), basically hailing from Tangail, has staged a protest rally demanding justice for schoolboy Shihab Mia murder on Sunday.
The rally was held in front of the Raju monument inside DU premises at 11:00am.
Besides students and teachers from DU, many others from Tangail came to join the protest rally.
Shihab was a fifth-grade student of Srishti Academic School in Tangail’s Bishwas Betka area. He was a resident of Berbari village under Tangail’s Sokhipur upazila.
Shihab’s dead body was recovered from the residential building of his school on June 20.
Later today, hospital sources revealed that Shihab was killed by strangulation.
Dhaka University Senate Member and Sir F Rahman Hall Provost Professor KM Saiful Islam Khan, former General Secretary of BUET Chhatra League and Finance Secretary of Awami League sub-committee Md Ataullah, Shihab's father Md Elias Hossain and his sister attended the protest rally.
Professor Dr KM Saiful Islam Khan said, "I saw Shihab’s body and noticed signs of injuries on his chest, hands, legs and back. There were blood clots everywhere. Such an incident can never be called suicide."
"It is impossible for any human being to do such an inhumane act," he added.
Demanding justice, deceased’s father Elyas Hossen said, "My son was not too old to understand suicide. They killed my son after torturing him and later they spread propaganda saying that he committed suicide."
Shihab's sister said, "My brother had taken admission to this school of his own will and he didn’t want to stay at home any longer as his exams were approaching. He had returned from his home just three days before his killing but I had no idea what would happen within just three days."
“Such a child can never commit suicide,” she added.
"When we tried to communicate with the school authority in this regard, we received different types of information. Some said he was ill, some said he got injured while he was playing and that’s why he was admitted to hospital. But, when we communicated with the hospital authority, they said that no such patient was brought to them," she also said.
Demanding proper investigation of the incident, Shihab’s sister mentioned that later, a teacher of the school handed Shihab’s dead body to them.
Concert for flood-hit people at DU begins Monday
A two-day concert for helping the flood-hit people of northeastern districts of the country will begin at Dhaka University's (DU)Teacher Student Center (TSC) premises on Monday.
The concert has been arranged by teachers and students of the university under an initiative named 'All Cultural and Social Organizations of Dhaka University are with the flood-hit people'.
Read:More rain forecast, but flood situation in 11 districts likely to improve Sunday
Former DU senate member Golam Quddus is the convener of the event, while Mass Communication and Journalism department Professor Robayet Ferdaus and General Secretary of Dhaka University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) Professor Nijamul Hoque Bhuiyan have been made the member secretary and adviser of the event respectively.
A press conference was held around 1:30pm on Sunday at Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) to invite people to come forward to help the flood-hit people by attending the concert.
Member Secretary of the initiative Professor Robayet Ferdaus said that the word ‘relief’ is not appropriate as the country belongs to all the citizens of this land.
“People provide taxes for the betterment of the country and it's the legal right of the people to get the help," he said.
Robayet added that DU is a public university which runs with the funding based on taxes paid by people. So it’s DU’s responsibility to give a hand to the flood-hit people.
He hoped that everyone from the DU family will take part in this initiative.
"Since the early days, DU has been contributing for the wellbeing of the country’s people and this time we’ve stood together once again to help the flood-hit people of the country,” said Acting Director of TSC Ali Akbar.
Renowned bands like Warfaze, Ark, Ashes, Viking, Sonar Bangla Circus and Sohojia will perform.
Read: Soaring prices of dry food another blow to flood-hit Beanibazar residents
"Most of the country’s popular bands have agreed to join us," said Quddus.
The entry fee of the concert has been fixed at Tk 300 and the entire amount will go to the flood-hit people.
The concert has been scheduled to be held from 2:00 pm to 10:00pm.
New schedule of SSC exams to be announced when there will be no floodwater in schools: Dipu
The schedule of suspended Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be announced once floodwater completely recedes from schools, said Education Minister Dipu Moni.
The minister said this while talking to reporters on Saturday at a programme held at Chandpur Press Club.
Read: SSC exam postponed for worsening flood
“When students will be able to attend the exams easily the new schedule for exams will be announced,” she said.
On June 17, SSC and equivalent examinations, under all the education boards slated to begin on June 19 were postponed due to the flood situation in the country.
‘Cha’ unit MCQ test results published
The MCQ test results of ‘Cha’ unit under Fine Arts faculty of Dhaka University have been published on Thursday.
The results are available on university website admission.eis.du.ac.bd or can be collected through short message service (SMS).
Read: DU holds 'Cha' unit admission test
For SMS notification of the results, a candidate will have to type DU CHA [exam roll] and send it to 16321.
This year, a total of 7,440 students applied against 130 seats of 'Cha' unit of which only 1500 students were selected for drawing test scheduled to be held on July 2.
Earlier on June 17, the MCQ test of Cha unit was held in eight divisions of the country.
21 DU students stuck in flood-hit eatery at Sunamganj
Some 21 students of Dhaka University have been trapped by floods in a restaurant on to visit to Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj district.
Running out of water and food on Friday they called out for immediate rescue.
Three days ago the students went to Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj on an excursion.
They took refuse in Pansi restaurant when the flood situation of the district turned serious on Thursday.
Nineteen of the stranded students are from the university's Mass Communication and Journalism department. Of the stranded students seven are female.
Stranded Shoaib Ahmed, a third- year student of Mass Communication and Journalism department sent a SOS saying, "We are in dire need of food and drinking water and there is no toilet facility here. Here, most of our phone is out of battery and not working properly due to poor network.
Speaking on behalf of the group he called for their immediate rescue.
Also read: Floods in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona likely to deteriorate further in 24 hours: Forecast
Another student of the group Usama Rafid, posted on his Facebook timeline 16 hours back that "We all have some stories to tell. From a random tour to survival thriller."
When asked, Dhaka University Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani said, "I am in touch with the local administration. We have asked the cooperation of local administration and local people's representatives in this regard. We strongly urged them to rescue the students by sending trained rescue teams if necessary. "
Also read: Worsening floods threaten power supply in Sylhet: officials
"I have talked to the trapped students. They are still well and healthy. I have spoken to the SP and DC and asked them for emergency assistance, food and rescue," he added.
DU holds 'Cha' unit admission test
Dhaka University (DU) on Friday held the admission test of the 'Cha' unit under the Faculty of Fine Arts for the 2021-22 academic session.The test was held at designated examination centres across the eight divisions of the country. The test began at 11 am for a duration of one-and-a-half hours."This year, we decided to hold the exams in all eight divisions of the country to minimise the sufferings of the candidates and their parents," said DU vice-chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman after visiting an exam center of Fine Arts faculty.
Also read: DU Senate expunges 'Bangladesh Zindabad' from teacher's address"Fine Arts faculty dean Prof. Nisar Hossen coordinating the unit exam and vice-chancellors of the respective universities are helping us in this regard. I was told that the exams were held smoothly," he said.As 57 students are competing for every single seat of Fine Arts faculty, this year a total of 7440 students applied against 130 seats of 'Cha' unitCha unit admission test has been taken in two steps as students give MCQ test then selected students sit for writen and drawing test. The drawing test will be held on July 2.
Also read: DU syndicate approves Tk 922.48 cr budgetBesides DU, the admission test was held at University of Chittagong, University of Rajshahi, University of Khulna, University of Barishal, Bangladesh Agricultural University of Mymensingh, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology of Sylhet and Begum Rokeya University of Rangpur.
DU Senate expunges 'Bangladesh Zindabad' from teacher's address
Dhaka University Senate has expunged the words 'Bangladesh Zindabad' spoken by a member of the BNP-backed White panel of teachers at the annual session.
The issue came to light when some teachers of Awami League backed Blue panel raised their voice against Prof. Obaidul Islam ending his speech with 'Bangladesh Zindabad' at the annual session of DU Senate.
DU Pro- Vice Chancellor Prof. Mohammad Samad in his remarks strongly protested the address of Dr. Obaidul Islam.
Senate chairman, DU VC also protested and expunged that part of the address of Prof. Obaidul Islam, saying that "any word that is contradictory with the sense and value of Liberation War" shall not be uttered in such a place.
But Dr. Obaidul Islam defended himself saying that he has freedom of speech and it is not unethical to use the word 'Zindabad' as Bangladeshi law and constitution do not ban using this word.
He also asked DU VC to show him if it is illegal to use the word 'Zindabad' and when it was banned?
”Zindabad is related to anti-liberation forces and Pakistanis used to use this word, (so) we shall avoid this word," VC replied.
"Freedom of speech does not mean to say anything you want. Freedom of speech does not give you the right to use words that are contradictory to the values of our liberation," he added.
Also read: Embattled ex-BCL chief resigns from DU Senate