Education
Educational institutions to be reopened after Feb 21: Health Minister
All the educational institutions of the country will be reopened after February 21 as the Covid-19 cases keep falling gradually, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said.
"The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has no objection to reopening physical classes, but we would suggest the educational institutions to be reopened in compliance with health-safety rules," he said in a views-exchange meeting with district health officials at Gorpara Shuvro Centre in sadar upazila at noon.
The minister advised all the students of schools and colleges who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
Also read: Dipu Moni hints at reopening of educational institutions soon
"Eighty-five per cent of our target population has been vaccinated so far. So, the risk of infection and death is much lower now," he said.
SUST VC finally apologises over cop attack on students
Vice-Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Farid Uddin Ahmed expressed regret over the police action on protesting students on January 16.
“I express my sincere sympathy to all of those, including students, teachers and staff injured in the unwanted incident on that day,” he said in a press statement.
The statement reads: “I express my sincere regret over the incident and I also express my gratitude to the teachers, students and staff who are trying to overcome the stalemate.”
The VC expressed regret a day after Education Minister Dipu Moni visited the university on Saturday.
Read: Now SUST students want removal of new proctor
Farid Uddin Ahmed also thanked deputy education minister, the government officials concerned, Awami League leaders and members of law enforcement agencies, media workers who played a responsible role in restoring normalcy on the campus.
The VC also urged all to play their role in restoring the normal academic atmosphere and normal activities on the campus.
On Friday, the SUST agitating students reiterated their demand for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin at their meeting with Education Minister Dipu Moni.
Now SUST students want removal of new proctor
The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) students have now called for the resignation of the new proctor.
SUST Proctor Md Alamgir Kabir was relieved from his position Thursday and replaced by Associate Professor Md Ishrat Ibne Ismail of the English department.
The anti-VC movement that began after police action on protesting students on January 16 also demanded the removal of Professor Alamgir from his post as proctor.
"A female student was sexually harassed in front of the newly appointed proctor [Ishrat Ibne Ismail]. But he did nothing to stop that. The incident is under investigation. It was not a right decision to appoint him to a key position at the university at such a time," Yasir Sarkar, one of the students who joined the meeting with Education Minister Dipu Moni Friday, told the media at a press conference.
"For his removal, we have placed our demand to the education minister. The minister assured us that the right steps would be taken in this connection. She also told us that the opinion of the students would be taken into consideration for the appointment of a proctor for the future."
The anti-VC movement has been suspended for one day, Yasir added.
Earlier in the day, the agitating students reiterated their demand for the resignation of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Farid Uddin during their meeting with Dipu Moni.
After the meeting, Dipu told reporters, "Some demands of the students have already been met. Their main demand is the resignation or removal of the VC."
"The demand will be presented to the president, the chancellor of the university, since he holds the power to appoint someone as VC and remove him or her from the post."
The students raised eight demands during their three-hour meeting with Dipu Moni at the Circuit House in Sylhet.
They resumed protests Wednesday after their demand for the removal of VC was not met.
The protests began in the middle of January. Over two dozen SUST students who went on fast unto death ended their strike on January 26. They broke the fast after former SUST Professor Zafar Iqbal offered them water to drink.
The students embarked on the hunger strike on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of the VC over the police crackdown on their fellows.
The strike was launched after police swooped on the protesting students, charging batons and firing sound grenades and shotgun bullets. Also, the police had filed a case against 300 unnamed protesting students.
The alleged attack was carried out to free the VC from confinement in the university's IICT building, and it had left 40 people hurt, including teachers, students and policemen.
Zafrin Ahmed, a provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, was at the centre of the initial unrest, as she allegedly misbehaved with some students on January 13 when they met her with some complaints.
She later resigned from her post, citing health issues.
Corrupted VCs should be punished: DU VC
Vice-chancellors of public universities should not be involved in irregularities and corruption and those involved in corruption should be brought under the law, said Vice-Chancellor Dhaka University Prof. Md. Akhtaruzzaman on Friday.
He was addressing a shadow parliament at FDC organized by 'Debate for Democracy' on 'the role of teachers and students in preventing instability in the campus', said a media statement.
To maintain a friendly atmosphere on campus, both students and teachers need to be responsible in choosing words and criticizing opponents, he added.
Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran, Chairman of Debate for Democracy, presided over the function.Chowdhury Kiran said that the good relationship between the students and teachers plays an important role in maintaining the learning environment in the educational institution.The recent incident at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology was extremely painful. The agitating students are still in a tough position to demand the resignation of Farid Uddin Ahmed, the vice-chancellor of Shahjalal University, he added.He also made a six-point recommendation to enhance the quality of education by maintaining a respectful teacher-student relationship on campus.Professor Dr Akhtaruzzaman further said concerned authorities of the government are working to resolve the ongoing crisis of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.The education curriculum is being restructured in line with the Sustainable Development Goals by publishing international standard journals, increasing research collaboration, expanding partnerships with world-renowned universities and raising the position of Dhaka University in the international index.In addition, other programs are being taken in the light of the parameters on which international indicators are made, he added.
Removal of VC up to President Hamid: Dipu Moni to SUST students
The agitating students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have reiterated their demand for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin in their meeting with Education Minister Dipu Moni.
Dipu said that demand for the resignation of the VC will be presented to the president as he, also the Chancellor of the university, holds the power to appoint and remove someone in the post of VC.
The students raised a total of eight demands during the three-hour meeting with the education minister at the Circuit House in Sylhet on Friday.
After the meeting, Dipu told reporters, "We have listened to them attentively during the discussions."
"However, some of the demands of the students have already been met. Their main demand is the resignation or removal of the VC," she added.
The other demands made by the students- start of classes and examinations, withdrawal of cases against students, opening of closed mobile banking accounts of more than 250 students, provision of one-time financial assistance to student Sajal Kunda who was injured in police firing and confirmation of ninth grade job for him, recruit Md Zafar Iqbal and Yasmin Haque as Emeritus Professors, increase the budget for research in all universities, implementation of coding system in examination system, introduction of recruitment process on the basis of PhD and demo class in teacher recruitment.
Apart from Dipu Moni, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed were in the meeting with the students, teachers and different SUST organisations.
Meanwhile, Dipu Moni advised Farid Uddin Ahmed to fulfill his responsibilities as the VC of SUST, said SUST Registrar Md Ishfaqul Hussain.
He also said the minister called upon the teachers to restore normalcy on campus during the talks.
The education minister also informed that the allegations made by students against the VC are being investigated, said SUST Treasurer Anwarul Islam.
Rally to demand release of activist Mihir Ghosh held
Bangladesh student Union held a rally on Dhaha University campus on Friday demanding abolishment of DSA and release of Mihir Ghosh, presidium member of Bangladesh Communist Party.
Addressint the protesr Ragib Nayem, president of DU unit of student union said, DSA is not any act, government using it as a weapon to shut free the voices.
Dipu Moni hints at reopening of educational institutions soon
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Friday hinted at the possibility of reopening educational institutions following the downtrend of covid cases in the country.
"The positivity rate is decreasing day by day and, hopefully, all the educational institutions will be reopened soon," she said at a view exchange programme with the leaders of Sylhet district and city unit of Awami League at Sylhet Circuit House.
Read: Dipu Moni in Sylhet to diffuse SUST crisis
Meanwhile, the minister said the government is making every effort to solve the problems of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). "In this case, students have rights as well as responsibilities. All problems can be solved through discussion."
She added that issues like SUST's occur in almost all public universities.
The education minister also remarked that initiatives are being taken to solve the problems of all public universities through national initiatives.
Read: Dipu Moni to visit SUST Friday as protests resume
Apart from Dipu Moni, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed are slated to hold meetings with the students, teachers and different SUST organisations between 4pm and 7pm.
Earlier, a three-member ministerial team, led by Education Minister Dipu Moni, arrived in Sylhet Friday morning to hold talks with the protesting students of SUST.
Dipu Moni in Sylhet to diffuse SUST crisis
A three-member ministerial team, led by Education Minister Dipu Moni, arrived in Sylhet Friday morning to hold talks with the protesting students of the coveted Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).
The SUST students resumed their protests Wednesday, after their demand for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed was not met.
Apart from Dipu Moni, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed are part of the team, that's slated to hold meetings with the students, teachers and different SUST organisations between 4pm and 7pm.
Also read: Dipu Moni to visit SUST Friday as protests resume
Their aim is to diffuse the ongoing crisis on the university campus, UNB has learnt. The three ministers will depart for capital Dhaka on a late-night domestic flight.
Dipu Moni to visit SUST Friday as protests resume
Education Minister Dipu Moni will hold a meeting with the students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology University (SUST) on Friday as they resumed demonstrations demanding Vice Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed’s resignation.
“The personal secretary to the minister said she’ll start for Sylhet at 8 am and will hold a meeting with SUST students,” Mujibor Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet, told UNB on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the SUST authorities removed its proctor Dr Md Alamgir Kabir, whose resignation was one of the demands of protesting students.
Md Ishrat Ibne Ismail, Associate Professor of the English Department of SUST, has been made the new proctor, according to a notice signed by registrar Isfaqul Hossain on Thursday.
The notice, however, mentioned personal and family issues as the reason for his withdrawal.
Earlier on February 6, the authorities appointed Prof Amina Parveen of the Department of Social Work as the new Student Counselling and Guidance Director removing Prof Zahir Uddin Ahmed from the position due to his “sickness”.
SUST students brought out a procession on the campus on Thursday morning and marked the place with a red handprint where police attacked them in front of IICT building on January 16, said Shahria Abedin, a protesting student.
Irregularities in recruitment: PUST VC freed after 4 hours of confinement
After remaining confined for four hours by the teachers, students over allegations of irregularities in recruitment process Vice-Chancellor of Pabna University of Science Technology, Dr M Rostom Ali was freed on Thursday evening.
He was locked in his office room at the university until around 5:30 pm when he was released with the intervention of police, Rowshan Yazdani, Inspector (investigation) of Pabna police station.
Police were deployed on the campus after being informed, he said.
Also raed: Show-cause notices against 3 teachers: PUST students stage demo
Due to his confinement a meeting of the PUST regent board scheduled today could not be held, said D Md Abdul Alim, Associate Professor of Bangla Department.