United News of Bangladesh

At least five students of Dhaka University were seriously injured after jumping from different dormitory buildings in panic during an earthquake. In total, reports indicate that at least 10 students across the university have been injured, several of whom have been admitted to hospitals. The earthquake struck at 10:38 a.m. on Friday. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, it measured 5.7 on the Richter scale, with the epicenter in Madhabdi, Narsingdi. A student named Tanzir Hossain was severely injured after jumping from the fourth floor of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall. The university’s proctor, Saifuddin Ahmed, said three other students from the same hall were also injured after jumping. Meanwhile, a student of Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall was injured after jumping, resulting in a broken leg. Several buildings of Dhaka University suffered plaster damage due to the earthquake. Helal Uddin, a student of Mohsin Hall, described the incident on Facebook, writing that he had been lying down when the earthquake started. As it continued for a long time, he felt paralyzed with fear. Disoriented, he ran to the rooftop. He saw several students jumping from the third and fourth floors and getting injured. Some were taken to the hospital by ambulance. Bangladesh earthquake: Over 100 injured in Narsingdi In a Facebook post, DUCSU vice president Abu Shadik Kayem wrote, “We have repeatedly demanded that the university administration repair various risky residential and academic buildings, including different halls. Plaster has fallen from the roofs of many buildings. Cracks have appeared in several walls. Due to the administration’s negligence and slow progress in ensuring safe housing, the lives of Dhaka University students have become severely threatened during natural disasters.” He added, “We do not want to witness another ‘October tragedy’. We do not want a repeat of roof collapses. The university must urgently repair residential and academic buildings and construct new ones.”    

A delegation from RUDN University met Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin on Wednesday. Three professors of one of Russia’s leading universities arrived in Dhaka for a two-week visit. During their stay, they visited several Bangladeshi universities, delivered lectures about Russia, and held a seminar on teaching Russian as a foreign language. At the meeting, the professors shared their impressions of Bangladesh, highlighting the warm welcome they received from local academia and students, as well as their keen interest in Russia. RUDN University is renowned for its multiethnic student community and openness to international applicants. According to the Embassy, about 100 Bangladeshi students are currently studying there.

Deputy registrar of Dhaka University Mohammad Lovelu Mollah was detained allegedly for posting a photocard on his facebook page over the verdict of Sheikh Hasina. The proctorial team and DU students handed the deputy registrar to Shahbagh Police Station on Monday night, said Khalid Monsur, officer-in-charge of the police station. Legal action will be taken against him, he added. Lovelu posted a photocard featuring Sheikh Hasina on his Facebook page with the caption “I don’t care.”   Earlier, Lovelu uploaded a video on facebook saying, “I’m being detained and arrested without committing any crime. I’ve done nothing wrong. Please look after me. Sheikh Hasina will return, Bangladesh will smile. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.” Lovelu had been involved in politics of Bangladesh Chhatra League politics during his student life. Committee formed to draft framework for student politics at Dhaka University DU Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said they have taken administrative measures against Lovelu. “He had been made OSD (Officer on Special Duty) and relieved of all responsibilities. We will sit again and make further decisions regarding his status,” he said.

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU), currently dominated by members of a panel backed by the Jamaat e Islami student front Shibir, brought out a joyous procession and distributed sweets on the campus soon after the delivery of the judgment of the International Crimes Tribunal, awarding capital punishment to deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a case filed on charges of crimes against humanity. The elected post-holders of DUCSU and general students brought out the procession from the Teachers and Students’ Center (TSC) of the university and ended in front of the DUCSU building on Monday afternoon. During the procession they chanted slogans like ‘Ei muhurte khobor elo, khuni Hasinar fashi holo,’ (News just arrived, Murderer Hasina to Hang), ‘Ekta ekta League dhor, dhoira dhoira jele bhor,’ (One by One Catch the League, Catch them and throw in Jail) and others. Later, Mosaddek Ali Ibn Mohammad, Literary and Cultural Secretary of DUCSU distributed sweets among the people at the TSC. “We believe that this verdict reflects a measure of justice. A fuller reflection of justice will come when the Awami League--is banned,” he said. He also urged the government take steps to execute the verdict after bringing back Sheikh Hasina to the country soon. DUCSU protests against AL's 'conspiracies to destabilise’ the state Meanwhile, Transport Secretary of DUCSU Asif Abdullah, said, “For the long seventeen years, Bangladesh was run through abduction, killing, murder, and repression under Indian hegemony. Today we have received justice for that.” “The verdict we received today is not the final step. That killer Hasina must be brought back to the country very quickly and the execution must be carried out. To ensure this execution, everyone must remain on the streets,” he said.    

Jahangirnagar University Central Student Union (JUCSU) has nominated five representatives including Vice President (VP) and General Secretary (GS) to serve on the university’s Senate. The decision was taken during JUCSU’s third executive meeting on Sunday night, based on the consents from other elected members.  The nominated representatives are VP Abdur Rashid Jitu, GS Md Mazharul Islam, Joint GS (male) Ferdous Al Hasan, Joint GS (female) Ayesha Siddika Meghla, and Environment and Nature Conservation Secretary Md. Safayet Mir. After the meeting, GS Mazharul said the five representatives were selected based on the majority opinion of the elected members and their representation in the Senate is an important aspect of JUCSU. JUCSU: Newly-elected VP Zitu vows to end sycophantic student politics During the meeting, the executive committee also discussed matters including the trial process for teachers accused in the July attack, academic reforms, grade tampering, various university development projects, and JUCSU’s funds. Under the Jahangirnagar University Act 1973, JUCSU has the authority to nominate five student representatives to the Senate.    

To maintain peace, order, and security on the Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus, the university’s highest policy-making body, the Syndicate, has imposed a ban on all events taking place after 10pm. The directive was announced in an urgent press release signed by the university’s acting registrar Dr. ABM Azizur Rahman on Saturday evening. The notice said that, “In the interest of peace, order, and security on the Jahangirnagar University campus, any event after 10 pm has been banned until further orders.” It further warned that action would be taken against any organizers who continue events beyond the permitted time, in accordance with existing university regulations and state law.

Students of Dhaka University’s Chemistry Department have accused Professor Md Ershad Halim of sexually harassing several male students. The allegations were raised at a press conference held on Thursday night at the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) office, where students demanded the professor’s permanent expulsion and the highest punishment under the law. The university authorities have already instructed Prof Ershad to refrain from all academic and administrative activities after two students filed complaints of sexual harassment. At the press conference, Ovik Chakraborty, a student of the 2022–23 session, said, “Such a psychopath, rapist and pervert exists in the department! The students cannot accept him as a teacher.” DU extends deadline for undergraduate admission application and payment He said seniors had previously warned them about Prof Ershad, but they did not take the warnings seriously. According to Ovik, “Students with vulnerabilities — academic, financial or mental — were his targets. He would first call them to his room, then to his house. He phoned students at midnight without reason and talked nonsense.” Describing a recent incident involving a victim, Ovik said, “One day, Prof Ershad called the victim to his house, asked him to take off his shirt and undressed himself. He then began physically and sexually assaulting him. Afterwards, he started blackmailing the victim.” He added, “On another day, the victim did not pick up his calls. Prof Ershad phoned repeatedly from different numbers and continued blackmailing him. Eventually, the victim went to his house, where he was tortured more severely throughout the night and threatened to remain silent.” Fazlul Haq Hall Vice-President and Chemistry Department student Khandakar Muhammad Abu Naim, who was also present, said, “This is a threat not only to Dhaka University but to the entire country. He must be taken into custody under the law as soon as possible.”  

Dhaka University has extended by three days the deadline for submitting applications and payments for its 2025–26 undergraduate admission programme. Applicants can now complete their submissions until 11:59 pm on November 19, 2025. Muhammod Rafiqul Islam, acting director of the university’s Public Relations Office, confirmed the extension on Thursday evening. This year, admission tests will be conducted under five separate units. The test for the Fine Arts Unit will be held on November 29, followed by the Business Studies Unit on December 6, the Arts, Law and Social Science Unit on December 13, and the Science Unit on December 20. The test for the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) will take place on November 28. All admission tests, except for the IBA, will be held from 11 am to 12:30 pm, while the IBA test will run from 10 am to 12 pm.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) will begin its admission tests for first-year students of the 2025–26 academic session (55th batch) on December 21, said JU’s acting registrar ABM Azizur Rahman on Wednesday. Regarding the schedule for individual units, Azizur Rahman said, “No decision has been taken yet about the specific dates for each unit’s test. We will finalise the unit-wise dates after considering the number of applicants and coordinating with the exam schedules of other universities.” Jahangirnagar University: Students struggle as mosquitoes take over Due to a high number of applicants, he said, each unit’s test will again be held in multiple shifts, including morning and afternoon. University authorities have said it is not possible to accommodate all candidates in a single day because of limited seats and infrastructural constraints.    

Activists of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) staged a motorbike showdown and overnight sit-in at the university gates on Wednesday night, centring the Awami League’s lockdown programme announced ahead of Thursday’s court verdict concerning ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Around midnight, JUCSU representatives began a motorbike procession from the Bot Tola area, parading through different parts of the campus. Following the showdown, Jaksu and hall union leaders took positions at all university entrances, maintaining overnight vigil and patrols. Speaking on the occasion, JUCSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam said, “Tomorrow, the fallen autocrat and killer Hasina’s verdict date will be announced. Awami League and its allies are planning acts of sabotage centring the verdict. We hope that the people of Bangladesh will finally see justice. From Jahangirnagar University, we want to send a clear message — we are united against the Awami League and its associates.” Jahangirnagar University suspends 16 students over ragging of freshmen Earlier, around 11:30 pm, leaders and activists of the JU unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti brought out a bike procession from the ‘Bot Tola’ area on the same issue. The procession marched through several campus roads before ending at the university’s main gate, where they later took position. Addressing the gathering, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s JU unit Joint Convener Zia Uddin Ayan said, “Chhatra Shakti has always been uncompromising when it comes to the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy. We were on the streets in July, and today we are here again to resist all forms of conspiracies by Hasina and her forces.” “Any organisation that remains silent on the Awami League’s actions or attempts to rehabilitate them will also face our resistance,” he warned.