United News of Bangladesh

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) staged a protest march today evening condemning the shooting of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson and aspiring independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency, Sharif Osman Hadi, who was critically injured after armed assailants opened fire on him in the capital’s Paltan area today. The procession began in front of the DUCSU building and paraded through several roads on campus before ending at the VC Chhatar. During the march, students chanted various slogans, including “We are all Hadi,” “We will speak even at gunpoint,” “Bullets pierce Hadi’s chest-what is the administration doing?” among others. At the rally, Sadik Shikdar, VP of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall Union, said, "The Bangladesh we earned in exchange for the blood of thousands of martyrs has been handed over to an interim government that has failed to ensure the security of the July revolutionaries. We demand the immediate arrest and trial of the terrorists who shot Hadi." Wishing Hadi’s speedy recovery, DUCSU AGS Mohiuddin Khan said, "Osman Hadi’s struggle is essentially our struggle. His struggle represents the struggle of July." Meanwhile, at 5 PM, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) brought out a protest march from the Dhaka Medical College Hospital premises. The procession marched around the Shaheed Minar, Rusel Tower, and the streets adjacent to Jagannath Hall before returning to the DMCH compound. JCD central committee president Rakibul Islam Rakib, general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, DU unit president Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas, general secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon, and leaders from different levels participated in the march. Speaking there, JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib said, "The attack on Osman Hadi just one day after the announcement of the national election schedule is a conspiracy to sabotage the election. Hadi is an active participant of the July movement. The attack clearly exposes the failure of the interim government." Addressing the interim government, he said, "We urge the interim authorities to immediately bring the attackers to justice. A certain group is trying to destabilize the country-your duty is to stop them." DU students protest under banner of ‘Students Against Terrorism’ A group of Dhaka University students also held a protest rally under the banner ‘Students Against Terrorism,’ demanding justice and accountability for the attack. The rally was held at 5:30 PM in front of the Raju Sculpture on campus. Demanding the arrest of the culprits, DU student Reyadul Islam said, "We have always trusted the law and relied on state institutions. But today we face the tragic outcome of that trust-our beloved brother Hadi is fighting for his life after being shot.”

The final list of candidates for the Shahjalal University Central Students’ Union (SUCSU) and hall union elections were published on Thursday. Chief Returning Officer Professor Dr. Abul Mukit Mohammad Moqaddes released the list on the SUCSU website. For the central union, 4 candidates are finalized for Vice President (VP): Delowar Hasan (Shishir), Muhyi Sharad, Mominur Rashid Shuvo, and Md. Mostakim Billah. 7 candidates are confirmed for General Secretary (GS): Md. Mujahidul Islam, Faisal Hossain, Maruf Billah, Junaid Ahmed, Md. Saifur Rahman, Md. Palash Bakhtiar, and Md. Junaid Hasan. The Election Commission also finalized candidates for other central posts, including 4 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS), 2 for Sports Secretary, 4 for Assistant Sports Secretary, 2 for Literature & Annual Secretary, 3 for Cultural Secretary, 2 for Liberation & Democratic Movement Secretary, 3 for Religion & Harmony Secretary, 3 for Social Welfare Secretary, 4 for Female Affairs Secretary, 4 for Health & Environment Secretary, 5 for Education, Research & Career Development Secretary, 5 for Information & Technology Secretary, 4 for International Affairs Secretary, 4 for Transport Secretary, 4 for Cafeteria & Canteen Secretary, and 5 for Law & Human Rights Secretary. A total of 28 candidates were finalized for general member positions. For the five residential halls, 11 candidates are confirmed for VP, 9 for GS, and 9 for AGS in each hall. After almost 28 years, elections will be held for 23 central union posts and nine posts in each of the six hall unions. Voting is scheduled for 20 January 2026.

A group of Dhaka University students forced Awami League-leaning teacher A K M Jamal Uddin to leave the campus after chasing him as he stepped out of the Faculty of Social Sciences’ teachers’ lounge. Around 1 pm on Thursday, as he and others came out of the building, a group of students led by DUCSU Social Welfare Secretary A B Zubayer began chasing Jamal. A video circulating on social media shows Zubayer grabbing Jamal’s clothes on the staircase of the Social Sciences Building in an attempt to stop him. In an effort to free himself, Jamal pulled off his hoodie. When he ran down the stairs and tried to escape, Zubayer continued to chase him. Eventually, Jamal got into a car, while Zubayer kept pulling at the car door, attempting to drag him out. DU student Abdur Rahman said that students had gathered after hearing that several Awami-leaning teachers, including Sociology Department teachers A K M Jamal and Zeenat Huda, were holding a secret meeting in the Faculty of Social Sciences’ teachers’ lounge around noon. He said, “In July, A K M Jamal Uddin talked about giving students brushfire treatment. He wanted to keep Sheikh Hasina in power for five more years without elections. “These Awami-leaning teachers even formed a human chain against the students. Zeenat Huda and others were present at a meeting with Hasina at Ganabhaban as representatives of teachers. Students have boycotted them. Students of the department have even locked their office doors,” Abdur Rahman added. DUCSU Social Welfare Secretary A B Zubayer wrote in a Facebook post, “Awami League’s wicked teacher A K M Jamal, who said the children of so-called self-proclaimed Razakars should be caught and given brushfire, along with Nil Dal leader Zeenat Huda and three other collaborators of fascists, came to campus today and joined a secret meeting. Upon receiving the news, we tried to detain them and hand them over to the police. But unfortunately, the scoundrels escaped in a vehicle they had prepared beforehand!”

The two-day “4th International Symposium on Quality Assurance in Engineering Education,” aimed at strengthening engineering education standards and aligning local accreditation systems with global benchmarks concluded on Tuesday. The closing session was held at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel InterContinental Dhaka. Jointly organised by the Board of Accreditation for Engineering and Technical Education (BAETE) and the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), the symposium brought together policymakers, international experts, academics and professionals from home and abroad. The second day opened with a keynote by Prof. Dr. Noor Yazdani, who presented a comparative overview of ABET and BAETE accreditation frameworks. He underscored the need for a robust quality assurance mechanism to ensure globally competitive engineering education. Prof. Dr. Anisul Haque highlighted how outcome-based evaluation can support sustainable development and foster entrepreneurship while Prof. Dr. Md Ashraful Alam stressed integrating sustainability principles into engineering curricula. Dr. Pru Howard and Dr. Rob Jarman jointly emphasized embedding social and technological perspectives in engineering education while Dr. Baishakhi Bose discussed challenges and opportunities in outcome-based education for the next generation of faculty members. On other hand,Prof. Dr. Swakkhar Shatabda and Dr. Sadid Muneer underscored the importance of adaptability, critical thinking and lifelong learning for students amid rapid technological change while Prof. Dr. Salekul Islam called for enhanced capacity-building initiatives for engineering educators. Speaking at the closing session, ICT Affairs Special Assistant Foyez Ahmed Tayyeb said Bangladesh still has significant scope for improvement in higher education. “Our universities have expanded in number, but quality has not progressed at the same pace,” he said. “International engagements like this symposium will help us elevate engineering education. We must ensure quality learning and invest more in producing skilled graduates.” Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said many river-management projects under the Water Development Board have historically harmed rivers, an issue she has long raised. “Now within government, I also see sincere efforts by many officials to protect public resources—though opportunities remain to do better,” she noted. “Dhaka has a detailed area plan (DAP) for liveability, yet it remains one of the least liveable cities. Engineers must embrace deeper social and environmental responsibilities; engineering alone cannot solve every problem.” BAETE Chairman Prof. Dr. Tanvir Manzur, who presided over the event, said the symposium aimed to harmonize Bangladesh’s engineering education with global standards and develop a sustainable quality assurance framework. “The two-day dialogue has given us a clear direction—strengthening accreditation, enhancing teacher competencies and guiding institutions toward international benchmarks,” he said. At the end of the event, organisers announced a strategic action plan focusing on expanding accreditation capacity, improving faculty training, strengthening university–industry collaboration and boosting international partnerships. They expressed hope that the outcomes will reinforce Bangladesh’s global standing in engineering education and pave the way for ensuring higher-quality education for future generations.

The intake test results for 2025–2026 undergraduate program under the Faculty of Fine Arts (Charukola Unit) of Dhaka University were published on Tuesday evening, showing a pass rate of 11.25 percent. Result seekers can find their results following the website- admission.eis.du.ac.bd Besides, results can be obtained via SMS by typing 'DU FRT ˂roll no˃' from Teletalk, Robi, Airtel, or Banglalink numbers and sending it to 16321, then the result will be sent in a reply message. This year, 6,521 students applied for only 130 seats under the faculty while 5,352 candidates sat for the test, with 602 students passing. The successful students include 145 male and 457 female, with 11.25 percent of pass. The admission test was held November 29.

Thousands of migrants may have received UK study and work visas despite failing mandatory English tests due to a marking error, The Telegraph reported. Up to 80,000 candidates taking IELTS exams administered by the British Council between August 2023 and September 2025 received incorrect results, with many wrongly given passing marks. The error affected listening and reading sections, though only about one per cent of tests were impacted. IELTS has since contacted affected candidates with corrected scores and support. Compounding the issue, evidence of cheating has emerged in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam, where leaked test papers were sold, enabling some migrants to secure visas without adequate English proficiency. As a result, several UK universities have suspended recruitment from Bangladesh and Pakistan over concerns about abuses. The errors have sparked safety concerns, particularly in the NHS and social care sector, where insufficient English skills could endanger patients. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the situation, warning that improperly approved visas risk integration failures and threaten public safety. The British Council, which co-owns IELTS with Cambridge University Press & Assessment and IDP Education, said the issue arose from a technical problem affecting a small number of tests. It emphasized that over 99 per cent of exams were unaffected and strengthened procedures to prevent recurrence. In Bangladesh, police arrested two people selling leaked IELTS papers for £1,000–£2,500. Similar cheating attempts occurred in Vietnam and China. The Home Office is awarding a new £816 million contract for English testing, with the British Council facing competition from other providers. An IELTS spokesperson said: “We have strict quality control procedures and have taken all necessary steps to prevent this issue from happening again. Affected candidates have been contacted and authorities informed.”

The dope tests for candidates in the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and Hall Union elections will be conducted on December 9 and 10. Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr. Mostafa Hasan confirmed the matter on Sunday (8 December). He said, “The dope tests for all candidates will be held on December 9 and 10. Candidates must bring their NID cards and student ID cards and appear at Dhaka Medical College, where the tests will be conducted. Representatives of the Election Commission, along with doctors, will be present during the tests.” Issuing a warning to the candidates, he added, “Each candidate must sign the documents in person. There is no room for fraud. If anyone is found to have forged a signature, their candidacy will be immediately cancelled.” Earlier, on December 4, the Election Commission announced a revised election schedule following a Syndicate meeting of the university. According to the schedule, the dope tests will be held on December 9 and 10. JnUCSU Election: Student bodies move to form ‘inclusive panels’ The schedule also states that the final list of candidates will be published on December 11 and 12; nomination withdrawal will take place on December 13 and 14; the list of withdrawn candidates will be released on December 14; candidates may conduct election campaigns from December 14 to 27; voting will take place on December 30; vote counting will also be held on December 30; and results will be announced on December 30 or 31.    

In the month of victory, students at Dhaka University (DU) staged a symbolic protest against 1971 razakars (collaborators) by trampling Pakistan’s flag. A group of students displayed the symbolic flags at the entrances of the university’s TSC and three residential halls, bearing the message: “No compromise with razakars.” On Monday afternoon, symbolic protests were held at Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall and Bijoy Ekattor Hall, while a similar demonstration took place Sunday night at Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall. Earlier, a Pakistan flag was placed on the ground in front of the DU Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) building and seen being stepped on; the image later circulated widely on social media. Jamaat to form national govt even if it wins 200 seats: Ameer Speaking at the protest, Ziaur Rahman Hall student Karib Chowdhury said, “Our initiative this month of Victory Day expresses deep gratitude to the martyred freedom fighters whose sacrifices won us a sovereign Bangladesh. At the same time, we express our hatred and protest against the Pakistani occupation forces and their collaborators, the razakars and Al-Badr.” Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall student Munim Ahmed added, “In 1971, the Pakistani army killed numerous students in our halls. We harbor hatred for them and will make no compromise for these heinous crimes.”

A total of 74 aspirants have collected nomination papers for 13 posts in the Begum Rokeya University Central Students' Union (BRUCSU) and Hall Parliament elections, officials said on Monday. Election Commissioner Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sarkar confirmed the completion of the nomination paper distribution process around 5:30pm. He said that 7 candidates collected nomination papers for the post of Vice-President (VP), 9 for General Secretary (GS), and 11 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS). For the secretary positions, 6 candidates collected nomination papers for Liberation War and Democracy Secretary, 5 for Science, Technology, Health and Environment Secretary, 5 for Career and International Secretary, 8 for Literature and Cultural Secretary, 5 for Sports and Social Services Secretary, 4 for Transport Secretary, and 3 for Publication and Research Secretary. In addition, 11 candidates collected nomination papers for the post of Executive Member. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali said the strong student participation surrounding the elections was very positive. BRUCSU election postponed over voter list errors He said the BRUCSU elections will play an important role in promoting democratic practices on campus and expressed hope that candidates capable of providing effective leadership for Begum Rokeya University will emerge through the process. “We are ready to make this election free and fair. The administration has been instructed to remain vigilant so that no dispute arises,” he added. Election Commissioner Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sarkar said the distribution of nomination papers has officially ended and noted that the student response has been satisfactory. Nomination papers will be submitted until the scheduled deadline on Tuesday. He expressed optimism about a festive election atmosphere.  

Jabian Club Limited, an organisation dedicated to graduates of Jahangirnagar University, has been formally launched following its inaugural Executive Committee meeting held on Friday . The Club was incorporated with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies (RJSC) on November 6 after completing all required regulatory procedures, said  a press release. The inaugural Executive Committee meeting took place at the Club’s Dhaka office, chaired by Mohammad Tahiat Hossain, a retired Additional Secretary and alumnus of the 9th batch. Dr Fahmida Khatun of the 10th batch (Economics) has been elected President of the Club, while Group Captain (Retd) Abu Hena Md Ameerul Ahsan of the 10th batch (English) has been named Secretary General. Members discussed key agenda items relating to the Club’s future activities and operational plans in a festive atmosphere, the release said, adding that full compliance with statutory requirements has been ensured. Jabian Club Limited aims to promote lasting connections among Jahangirnagar University alumni and support professional, social, cultural, sports, recreational and intellectual initiatives for its members.