education
With an eye to the future, 7th Bangladesh School of Internet Governance ends
The three-day Bangladesh School of Internet Governance (bdSIG) 2023 drew to a close in the capital on Saturday.
The seventh edition of the fellowship programme brought together 61 fellows – youth and professionals from the private sector, government, academia, civil society, and media – to help them shape the future of the internet by bridging the gap between technology and policy.
The bdSIG, a community development initiative of the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF), began at the Daffodil International University (DIU) in Dhaka's Savar on Thursday with sessions on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the internet of things, big data, AR, and VR.
DIU lecturers Arid Hasan conducted the session "Artificial Intelligence in Natural Language Processing," Musabbir Hasan "Data Science," and Assistant Professor Apurba Ghosh ran the session "Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Technology."
DIU Vice-Chancellor Professor M Lutfar Rahman, AHM Bazlur Rahman, founder of the BIGF, and Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu, founder and secretary general of the forum, spoke at the final session of the day.
On Friday, at the YWCA Guest House and Training Center in Mohammadpur, Bazlur, also CEO of the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Community, gave the fellows presentations about key internet issues, including the internet ecosystem; political, legal, economic, sociocultural, and technical dimensions of internet governance as well the local point of intersection of internet governance and Sustainable Development Goals.
He also had interactive conversations about the key actors in internet governance, digital infrastructure and adoption, digital rights, human rights, digital economy, digital divide, and geopolitical positioning.
Rezaul Islam, quality assurance manager of the BGD-eGOV CIRT, talked about cybersecurity and Bangladesh's preparedness.
Mamunur Rashid, consultant at the Enhancement of Bangla Language, conducted the session "Bangla Language in the Digital World."
Also, Anu discussed the activities of the BIGF and its communities, including the Bangladesh Women IGF, Bangladesh Youth IGF, and Bangladesh Kid's IGF.
3 injured in clash between two BCL factions at CU
At least three students were injured in a clash between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL) Chittagong University (CU) unit on Friday evening.
Eye-witnesses told UNB that supporters of the ‘Bijoy’group were divided into two factions and clashed with each other, leaving three students injured and vandalising eight rooms of Suhrawardy Hall.
Members of both the groups were seen with local weapons in their hall premises.
Acting Proctor of Chittagong University (CU) Dr. Shahidul Islam said that police went immediately after hearing the news. Police brought the situation under control.
None of the leaders could be reached despite repeated attempts.
7th Bangladesh School of Internet Governance starts
The 7th Bangladesh School of Internet Governance (bdSIG) 2023 started Thursday.
The three-day programme began at the Daffodil International University (DIU) in Savar with sessions on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, AR, and VR.
Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu, secretary general of the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF), welcomed the participants.
DIU lecturers Arid Hasan conducted the session "Artificial Intelligence in Natural Language Processing," Musabbir Hasan "Data Science," and Assistant Professor Apurba Ghosh conducted the session "Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Technology."
DIU Vice-Chancellor Professor M Lutfar Rahman, AHM Bazlur Rahman, CEO of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Community (BNNRC), and Anu spoke at the final session of the day.
On the second day of the programme at the YWCA Guest House and Training Center in Mohammadpur Friday, Bazlur discussed governance, internet governance, and digital governance.
Rezaul Islam, quality assurance manager of BGD-eGOV CIRT, talked about cyber security and Bangladesh's preparedness. Mamunur Rashid, consultant at Enhancement of Bangla Language, conducted the session "Bangla Language in the Digital World."
Also, Anu discussed the activities of the BIGF and its communities. He highlighted the aims and objectives of the bdSIG and briefed the participants about the school's sessions from 2017 to now.
Faisal Ahmed Bhubon, secretary general of the Bangladesh Youth IGF, discussed the activities of his platform in the last two years.
Nazmul Hasan Majumder, vice-chair of the bdSIG, discussed the activities of the school in the past three years. Ashrafur Rahman Piaus, secretary general of the bdSIG, discussed international fellowship opportunities for the participants.
SUST temporarily suspends 5 students for harassing first year student
The authorities of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Sylhet on Wednesday decided to suspend its five students for harassing a first year student in the name of ragging.
Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed, vice chancellor of the SUST, confirmed the news saying that they took the decision to suspend the students and cancel their seats at the dormitory after the allegations of ragging were found to be primarily true.
Apart from this, a five-member committee was formed to investigate the allegations and asked to submit its report within the next five days, he said.
The committee included Business Administration faculty Dean Prof Dr Khairul Islam, Business Administration Department Head Prof Dr Majharul Hasan, Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall Provost Prof Dr Abu Sayed Arfin Khan Nobel, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall Provost Moniruzzamana and Assistant Proctor Mizanur Rahman.
A group of students of the Business Administration faculty harassed the first year student in room No.111 of the Syed Mujtaba Ali Hall on January 20.
VC’s leaked audio clips: IU postpones two recruitment boards
The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia on Wednesday night postponed recruitment boards of its transport office and engineering office as several audio clips of conversations between its vice-chancellor and a job seeker went viral on Facebook.
The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the university administration with IU vice-chancellor Shaikh Abdus Salam in the chair, said a press release, signed by IU information, publication and public relations office deputy registrar Rashiduzzaman Khan Tutul amid protests of the ruling Awami League-backed student body Bangladesh Chhatra League for the removal of the vice-chancellor.
A total of eight audio conversations between VC Salam and a job seeker went viral on the social media from Thursday night.
The recruitment meeting for IU transport office is scheduled to be held on March 4 and 5 and for the engineering office is scheduled to be held on March 11. But the procedures have been postponed after the scam.
IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan told UNB that they postponed the recruitment boards due to unavoidable reasons and the date and time for the boards would be informed later.
Earlier, the university authorities on Sunday postponed the recruitment tests for medical officer scheduled for today, physical education and sports science department scheduled for February 22 and the mass communication and journalism department scheduled for February 22 as three audio clips of the conversations between the vice-chancellor and a job seeker for journalism department had gone viral.
20 hurt in clash between two BCL factions while paying homage at CU
A clash broke out in Chittagong University in the first hour of 21st February between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League over paying tributes at Shaheed Minar.
The clash erupted at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, which left 20 activists injured, said the leaders of the two groups.
According to campus sources, these two groups- ‘brothers’ and ‘Moku’- are sub-factions of BCL’s CU unit’s Bijoy group.
While the leaders and activists of ‘brothers’ group were on their way to the university’s central Shaheed Minar the activists of ‘Moku’ group tried to bar them from going there, triggering the violence.
One of the injured was transferred to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.
Delwar, an officer at CU Medical Centre, said a total of 20 people received treatment.
Delwar Hossain, a leader of a faction of Bijoy group said, “They had taken over our rooms. When we tried to talk about it, the situation turned violent.”
“They were trying to evict some of our activists from Alaol Hall for several days now and started chasing us today when we were going to the hall,” Hossain said.
Several leaders and activists from the ‘brothers’ group claimed they were attacked while carrying wreaths to the Shaheed Minar.
Although the groups were engaged in the clash for nearly two hours no one from the university administration was reportedly present there.
Dr. Shahidul Islam, acting Proctor of the university, said proctorial body and police went there and controlled the situation upon receiving information.
“We will look into the matter seriously if there’s a written complaint,” he said.
BCL-Torture: Prime accused appears before probe body
The leader and activist of Islamic University unit Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student organisation of the ruling Awami League, on Monday appeared before the probe body appointed by the university administration to reply to the allegations against them over ragging a fresher of Finance and Banking department of the university.
The prime accused, IU BCL unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohort Tabassum, appeared before IU probe body convener Professor Reba Mondol’s office at Mir Mosharraf Hossain Academic Building amid tight security measures in the morning.
The accused left the campus after her meeting with the probe committees formed by the university administration, IU proctor Professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad said.
Talking to UNB, Tabassum, cohort of Ontora, said, I told the investigation committee whatever happened on that day.’ She denied saying anything else.
Read: Islamic University: Victim of BCL torture returns to campus
Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora, however, declined to say anything regarding the allegations brought against them by the victim.
The probe body member secretary deputy registrar Alib Uddin of IU academic section, IU hall provost council president Professor Debashish Sharma and assistant proctor Murshid Alam Akash were present.
Professor Reba Mondol, convener of IU probe body, declined to say what they found in the investigation publicly.
They would try to submit their investigation report in time, she added.
Accused BCL leader Ontara and activist Tabassum left the hall following the High Court order on Thursday.
Kushtia district administration, however, formed a three member inquiry committee comprising additional district magistrate ANM Abujar Gifari, senior judicial magistrate Mahmuda Sultana and IU assistant proctor Shahbub Alam and asked it to submit its report within seven days following the High Court order.
Meanwhile, the pro-BNP teachers and officials of the university formed a human chain protesting at the ragging incident committed by the university unit BCL leader and activists.
They demanded immediate punishment of the accused involved in the incident through proper investigation.
Read: Two city college teachers quit under BCL pressure
On February 12 night, a group of BCL activists led by Ontora and her cohorts including Tabassum went to the victim’s room and reportedly assaulted and tortured her.
Ontora, at one stage, forced the victim to get undressed and videoed the incident on her mobile phone.
The BCL leader also threatened that she would make the video viral on social media if the victim disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complainant.
The victim lodged a written complaint with the university administration, including the university proctor, student adviser and the hall provost, demanding punishment of those involved in the incident on February 14.
A writ petition was also filed by Gazi Mohammad Mohsin, an alumnus of the university and a lawyer, with the High Court on Thursday.
The HC on the same day ordered the accused to leave the hall and the university administration to look into the matter seriously, and submit a report in this regard within the next 10 days.
It also asked the deputy commissioner of Kushtia to form a three-member probe body to further inquire into the incident, and submit a report within the next seven days.
Routine for SSC exam published
The routine for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations 2023 has been published.
The Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education released the routine for all educational boards on Monday.
According to the routine, the examination will begin on April 5 and continue till May 23.
Ex-BCL men stage demo at IU demanding VC’s resignation
Former leaders and activists of Islamic University unit Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student organisation of the ruling Awami League, staged a demonstration for the second consecutive day on Monday demanding vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam's resignation.
A group of IU ex-BCL leaders and activists went to the vice-chancellor office and kept it under lock and key in the morning after a total of three audio conversations between IU VC and a job seeker went viral on social media Facebook.
The agitators vowed to continue their demonstration on the campus until their demand was met.
Read: IU issues appeal for information to aid investigation
IU BCL unit former organising secretary Rasel Joarder told UNB that the vice-chancellor advised a job seeker of the Mass Communication and Journalism department over phone regarding the question patterns for the recruitment board of the department.
He had no rights to share any recruitment information with a job seeker. They urged the government to look into the matter, he added.
The university proctorial body, however, raided the VC office to search if there was any hidden device set up at the vice-chancellor office in the morning.
A total of seven audio conversations, three with a job seeker and two with ministry officials and two others with IU officials, went viral on social media Facebook on Thursday night to Monday afternoon.
Three audio clips of conversations between vice-chancellor Shaikh Abdus Salam and the mass communication and journalism department jobseeker Oliur Rahman were leaked and posted on Facebook where the VC asked Oliur to collect two other job seekers to fulfill the requirement for the department’s recruitment test.
Read: VC’s leaked audio clips: IU postpones 3 departments’ recruitment process
The vice-chancellor also told Oliur that Oliur failed to write his answer to the question of the recruitment test held on October 25, 2022. He also told him that he was not good at IQ.
The vice-chancellor gave him some advices for the test.
IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan filed a general diary with Islamic University police station in this connection on Friday night.
IU issues appeal for information to aid investigation
The Islamic University issued an open notice for all of its students with a view to gathering information regarding the ragging incident reportedly by the university unit Bangladesh Chhatra League vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohorts on the campus in Kushtia on February 12nigh.
A press release, signed by IU information and public relations office deputy registrar Rashiduzzaman Khan Tutul, was issued in this regard on Saturday night.
According to the press release, the university administration has issued the open notice for all to gather information from them for fair investigation of the ragging incident. If anyone has any evidence or information about the torture of female students, he/she should be asked to submit it, in written form or in person, to the probe body convener Professor Reba Mondol of law department of the university on Monday around 11:00am.
The identity of the informant will be kept confidential, the press release added.
Campus sources said that the fresher student of IU finance and banking department was brought to the campus under tight security on Saturday to testify before the inquiry committee as per the High Court directive.
She was later taken directly to the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall to testify in front of the inquiry committees appointed by the university authorities and the hall administration from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday.
The victim left the campus after her meeting with the probe committees formed by the hall authorities and the university administration, IU proctor Professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad said.
Four other students of the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall of the university also told the probe body that they were also tortured and intimidated by IU BCL unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohorts in the last few months.
They also demanded their immediate punishment to the probe bodies so that they could not dare to do such a heinous act in the future.
Talking to UNB, the victim said, "I have told the investigation committee whatever happened to me. I want fair justice for the accused involved in the incident," she said.
Ataur Rahman, father of the victim, said that the university administration assured them that legal action would be taken against the accused after a fair investigation.
But he demands immediate punishment of the accused.
Three other accused, Israt Jahan Mim of law department, Halima Khatun Urmi of fine arts department and Maobiya of finance and banking department, also took part in the ragging incident along with Ontora, a group of eye witnesses said on Sunday.
On February 12 night, a group of BCL activists led by Ontora and her cohorts including Tabassum went to the victim’s room and reportedly assaulted and tortured her.
Ontora, at one stage, forced the victim to get undressed and videoed the incident on her mobile phone.
The BCL leader also threatened that she would make the video viral on social media if the victim disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complainant.
The victim lodged a written complaint with the university administration, including the university proctor, student adviser and the hall provost, demanding punishment of those involved in the incident on February 14.
A writ petition was also filed by Gazi Mohammad Mohsin, an alumnus of the university and a lawyer, with the High Court on Thursday.
The HC on the same day ordered the accused to leave the hall and the university administration to look into the matter seriously, and submit a report in this regard within the next 10 days.
It also asked the deputy commissioner of Kushtia to form a three-member probe body to further inquire into the incident, and submit a report within the next seven days.
Accused BCL leader Ontara and activist Tabassum left the hall following the High Court order.