Education
IU officials continue work abstention
The officials of Islamic University continued abstaining from work for a ninth consecutive day on Sunday on the campus in Kushtia demanding to press home their three point-charter of demands.
Around more than two hundred officers from different offices and departments joined in the work abstention programme.
They staged a sit-in programme in front of the university's administration building from 9:00am to 2:00pm and chanted different slogans to press home their demands.
Also read: In-person classes to resume at IU Tuesday
Their demands are- increased pay scale, extension of retirement age from 60 to 62 years and a change in working hours from 8am to 2pm instead of 9am to 4:30pm.
Speaking in the protest programme, the officials said that they had been agitating in different times since 2016 to implement their demands.
The administration had always stopped the movement with false promises but they did not take any effective decision regarding them.
They started abstaining from work for one hour from February 19. To intensify the movement, they started a five-hour strike from Saturday.
IU Officers' Association president ATM Emdadul Alam said that the officials of different universities including Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Jahangirnagar had been enjoying the facilities. The IU administration only gave them assurance when they had been agitating for the implementation of their demands. But they did not take any initiative.
Also read: 1,270 seats still vacant at IU
They would continue their demonstration until their demands were met, he added.
IU vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam said that they had no objection regarding the demands of the officials. As there had a financial issue here, the issue will have to be through UGC.
They asked UGC to form a committee with their office representatives and initiatives would be taken regarding the officials through a process,' the VC said.
DUAA to celebrate centenary on March 12
Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) is set to observe the centenary of Dhaka University on march 12.
The celebrations will include birth centenary of Bangabandhu, Golden Jubilee of Independence and the 'Centennial Reunion of the association.
The decision on the celebration was taken in a general meeting of DUAA held on the alumni floor of Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate building on Sunday.
Also read: DU alumni centenary reunion prog deferred
According to the schedule, alumni and invited guests will enter the playground at 8:30 am. The inaugural function will begin at 10 am with the presentation of the national anthem, hoisting of the flag and recitation from the holy books. At 3:30 pm, 100 alumni of the university will be honoured and at 4:30 pm, a program titled 'Our Commitment to Alma Mater' will be organized.
A vibrant cultural program will also be held from 5:30 pm to 10 pm that day.
Also read: DUAA celebrates 71st founding anniversary
AK Azad, president of DUAA, presided over the meeting while other members of the DU were present.
The centenary celebration was scheduled to be held on January 14 and 15, which was postponed due to the coronavirus situation.
Students block Nilkhet Intersection demanding 2nd chance in DU admission test
Some students have blocked Nilkhet intersection demanding the university authorities to allow them to sit for the entry test of Dhaka University for the 2nd time.
They started demonstration around 12.30 pm and them left for the Registrar Building of Dhaka University around 1:15pm.
Read:Protests held at DU over BSMRUST student attack
They held a sit-in programme in front of the Registrar Building to press home their demand.Tanvir ahmed, one of the students who joined the rally, said, "I was sick during the admission test of Dhaka University in 2020-21 session and that’s why I want a second chance in the admission test."Another student named Shohan Ahmed said that they are just asking the authorities to give students a 2nd chance. “If educational institutions like medical college can allow students to sit for 2nd time entry test, then why DU won't allow us?”
Poba urges to control sound pollution
Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba), an environmentalist organisation, has staged a rally at Shahabag intersection asking the government to control and reduce sound pollution over the city area around 11 am today.
President of Bangladesh Nirapada Pani Andolan Engineer Anwar, President of Debidas Ghat Social Welfare Organization Musa, President of Bangladesh Cycle Implementation Committee Aminul Islam Taposh, President of Mrittika Social Development Organization Khadija Khanam along with the leaders and members of other environmentalist organisations were present in the rally.
Demanding to control sound pollution, Engineer Anwar said that "lately, loud sound has become a very common scenario on the roads of cities. Most of the drivers use weisel without any reason which causes sound pollution and damages our hearing power."
Also read: Sound pollution: Govt declares 3 areas in Barishal as ‘Silent Zones’
Later he asked the government to provide due punishment to the culprits who intentionally generate sound pollution.
Referring to medical science, Amirul Islam Taposh said that "if a man receives more than 60 db sound for a long time he may lose his hearing power temporarily and if he he receive more than 100 db sound for long time he may lose his hearing ability permanently."
He also said that "in the busy inn of the cities almost 70-80 db sound has been generated where the limitation is set as 45 db for day time and 50 db for night. For industrial area the limitation is set as 40 db for night and 50 db for day time but the reality is, around 60-70 db sound have been generated over days and night."
Also read: Khulna health hazard triggered by air and sound pollution
"If government does not control sound pollution strictly, half of the people of Dhaka city may lose 30 db of hearing ability soon", referring to the specialists he said.
Later, they asked the government to take steps like operating Mobile Courts on this issue, Generators, Horns and Machines that produce high frequency sound, shall not be imported, implementing More tree plantation programme, marking sound pollution producers and bringing them under strict punishment to control sound pollution and save the environment.
DU declares posts of 13 teachers vacant
Dhaka University (DU) has declared the posts of 13 teachers vacant as they did not return after going abroad for higher studies.
The decision was taken at the syndicate meeting of the university Wednesday.
DU will be able to appoint new teachers to these posts, one of the members of the syndicate told UNB.
The 13 teachers owe Tk9 lakh to Tk53 lakh to the university, he said. "A letter will be sent to them asking them to pay the dues."
The names of teachers will be officially announced after a specific time, the syndicate member added.
Follow health guidelines strictly at educational institutions: Minister
Urging all to abide by health guidelines at educational institutions, Education Minister Dipu Moni has said they do not want to shut those again due to Covid surge.
“We have resumed classes after a long time and we do not want to shut educational institutions again,” said Dipu while talking to reporters after inaugurating the piloting activities of New National Curricula of 2023 virtually from National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) auditorium on Tuesday.
Read: Senior schools, universities reopen after a month
She urged guardians, teachers and students to be aware of health protocols and maintain those properly.
Talking about the new curricula, the students will learn lessons by themselves and they will grow as skilled, eligible and good human being , she said adding, “Our motive is to achieve our national goals and build a peaceful and prosperous country.”
The guardians and the teachers have been requested to identify the problems of the curricula so that those can be fixed, said Dipu.
Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, who was also present at the promramme, urged all concerned to perform their duties sincerely and implement the new curricula.
“The teachers will identify the problems and weaknesses of the curricula so that students get modern and standard curricula,” he said.
BCL infighting at Shaheed Minar: 1 Injured
A city Chattra League leader was injured at the Shaheed Minar allegedly by a central BCL leader while paying homage to language heroes on Monday, witnesses said
The injured Ehsanul Haque Yasir is the former secretary of relief and disaster management of Dhaka city(south) BCL and accused Benzir Hossain Nishi is the central joint-general secretary of central Chhatra League committee.
Read: 8 hurt in BCL infighting in Ctg over offering flowers at Shaheed Minar
Benazir has been accused of hurting Ehsanul while he was going to place flowers at the Central Shaheed Minar to pay homage to language martyrs.
The incident took place in the early hours of Monday at the central Shaheed Minar. However, Benazir Hossain Nishi has denied the allegation.
Ehsanul Haque Yasir received first aid treatment at Dhaka medical college hospital.
Earlier in the morning, while placing wreaths on behalf of the hall branches of Dhaka University Chhatra League, a fight broke out among some members armed with bamboo sticks, witnesses said.
Read: DU student accuses a BCL activist of slapping him
Chhatra League leaders and activists created chaos in front of the altar. At that time the leaders and workers of Jagannath Hall and Shahidullah Hall were staying there. At that time, they were seen running towards each other with bamboo sticks used for carrying banners.
Also on Monday Chhatra League leaders and activists clashed in front of the entrance of the altar of Shaheed Minar, according to witnesses.
SSC, HSC exams in June-August, syllabuses re-revised
National Curriculum and Textbook Board has re-revised the syllabuses of Bangla second, English first and second papers of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams after more editing.
The Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board issued a notification on Sunday in this regard.
Besides, the SSC and HSC exams of 2022 will be held in June and August respectively, it said.
Read: PM urges simplifying scientific terms in Bengali for students’ benefit
On February 17, Education Minister Dipu Moni hinted at the possibility of holding this year's SSC and equivalent examinations and HSC and equivalent examinations between June and August.
"Exams will be held with shortened syllabus. Curtailing of subjects for the will be decided after the dates are finalised," she said.
According to the government's academic calendar, SSC examinations are held from February 1 and HSC examinations from April 1 every year. However, these exams were not held in time in the past two years due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Eastern University wins national round of Int'l Moot Court contest
The US Embassy in Dhaka has congratulated Eastern University for winning the 6th Bangladesh National Round of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Jessup) and BRAC University as the runner-up.
With the support of the U.S. Embassy, through the Department of Justice’s Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), Independent University, Bangladesh hosted the sixth Bangladesh national round of the Jessup from February 17-19.
Read:Egypt's Future University to co-host intl conference on restructuring of global economy
OPDAT sponsored the participation of teams from 32 Bangladeshi universities and supplied judges for the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final rounds.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was the chief guest and Vice Chancellor of IUB, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences of IUB, and Advisor of the Law Department of IUB addressed the participants.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Helen LaFave delivered remarks reflecting on the importance of the Jessup competition in promoting international cooperation and the rule of law.
“The advocacy skills that you develop through moot court will benefit you for the rest of your career,” she said.
LaFave also encouraged the participants to maintain their relationships with each other as they move forward in their legal careers and become the future leaders of Bangladesh.
Read: University of Michigan removes Schlissel as school president
Jessup is the world’s largest moot court competition, which brings together aspiring law students from approximately 700 law schools across 100 nations and jurisdictions. Competitors address fictional disputes between countries before the International Court of Justice.
The competition builds the oral and written presentation skills that are instrumental to aspiring lawyers’ overall advocacy skills and forges connections between international law students, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Sunday.
The International Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2022 will be held from March 24 to April 10.
2-day weekly holiday in all educational institutions from 2023: Dipu Moni
The government will introduce two-day weekly holiday in all educational institutions in the country from the next year, Education Minister Dipu Moni has said.
Dipu Moni came up with the announcement on Saturday while addressing the inauguration program of the new curricula of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
“There are already two weekly holidays in universities and in some secondary and higher secondary level education institutions. We proposed two-day weekly holiday for the secondary and the higher secondary level educational institutions to the Prime Minister with the new curriculum plan.”
The PM later added the primary educational institutions in the plan, she said.
Also read: Covid-19 Advisory Committee to meet tonight to discuss reopening of educational institutions: Dipu
Sixty-two educational institutions which have been brought under the new curricula will get two weekly holidays from this year, she said.
Piloting of the new curricula will start in these institutions from February 22 with the reopening of the education institutions.
Dipu Moni said there might be faults and mistakes in the books inaugurated today as they have been published newly under the curricula.
“As the piloting begins, we will get feedback every week to determine success of our efforts with the new curriculum,” she said.
Also read: Educational institutions may be reopened at Feb-end: Hasina
About introducing technical education in all educational institutions, the minister said,” It will need a huge investment in the education sector as newn infrastructures like workshops, laboratories, tools will be needed to introduce technical education in all educational institutions.
“Already technical education has been initiated in 600 educational institutions. This will need to be done in phases as we have included the subjects of life and livelihoods in the new curricula,” Dipu Moni added.