education
Wall collapses at DU hall canteen; 2 injured
Two people were injured after a wall in front of the canteen counter at Kabi Jasimuddin Hall of Dhaka University suddenly collapsed on Monday.
The incident occurred around 1:30 pm when the students were having lunch, said Mobarak Hossain the canteen manager.
Both the injured were outsiders, confirmed the hall authority.
Also read: 5 freshmen beaten up at DU hall for hailing end to guest room culture
A canteen boy told UNB: “It was the peak time and we were serving meals to students when the tiny wall in front of the canteen counter collapsed.”
Some resident students of the hall said, “As the wall was small in size and it fell back no major casualties occurred but the scene could’ve been different if it collapsed on opposite side.”
We visited the canteen along with an engineer immediately after the accident said Professor Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rashid, provost of Kabi Jasimuddin Hall.
Also read: DU halls reopen for all students, but no more ‘gano rooms.’
A five-member probe committee led by Professor Mohammad Jahirul Islam was formed to investigate the incident, he said.
The committee was asked to submit a report within three working days, said Dr. Rashid.
Haircut humiliation: Rabindra University teacher Farhana retains job, suspended for 3 academic years
Rabindra University authorities suspended teacher Farhana Yeasmin Baten from academic and administrative activities for three academic years for trimming the hair of its 14 students.
An office order on the final decision of the university authorities, signed by registrar Sohrab Hossain, was hanged on the notice board on Sunday.
According to the office order, Farhana, an associate professor of Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department, has been instructed to refrain from all academic and administrative activities including taking classes and exams, until the end of the academic activities of 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years.
Read:Haircut humiliation: Probe body recommends action against teacher Farhana
Regarding the decision, students, who have been demanding termination of the teacher, said that it would have been better if such a decision had been taken by the Academic Council at the beginning of the movement.
However, the university authorities took such a decision in favor of accused teacher Farhana Yeasmin, the students alleged.
Earlier on September 26, Farhana Yeasmin Baten, also the chair of the Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies Department, was charged with forcibly cutting the hair of 16 students.
The following day, Nazmul Hasan Tuhin, a student, tried to take his own life by consuming sleeping pills, prompting the university students to burst into protests. They also boycotted all the exams and classes on September 28.
Amid the protests, Farhana relinquished her three administrative positions on the same day.
Read: RUB haircut humiliation: Students on indefinite hunger strike demanding termination of accused teacher
Later, a five-member probe body was formed to investigate the incident. The university finally suspended Farhana on September 30.
On October 24, Shamim Hossain, a third-year student of Cultural Heritage and Bangladesh Studies, reportedly attempted to kill himself by swallowing poison demanding termination of Farhana.
Two days later, a probe committee formed by Rabindra University recommended taking action against its teacher Farhana for trimming the hair of its 14 students saying that it has found the ‘proof of her offence’.
ULAB's 6th convocation Monday
The sixth convocation of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) will take place online Monday.
This year, 754 students from ULAB's nine undergraduate and graduate programmes will receive their degrees at the ceremony, ULAB Vice-Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman said recently.
ULAB will hold its convocation online for the first time due to the Covid-19 situation, he added.
The convocation ceremony will be joined by Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on behalf of Chancellor President Abdul Hamid.
Professor Kazi Shahidullah, chairman of the University Grants Commission, will be present as a special guest.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, lawmaker and the former captain of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team, will deliver the convocation speech.
The convocation will be streamed live on ULAB's official Facebook page from 3pm.
The university's fifth convocation was held in February 2019, which was joined by President Abdul Hamid.
DU's 'Gha’ unit results out, pass rate 9.87%
Less than 10% candidates have passed the ‘Gha’ unit admission test of Dhaka University (DU).
The results of the test conducted by the Social Sciences Faculty for the 2020-21 academic session was published on Wednesday.
Some 7,994 students passed in the examination of a little over 82,000 aspirants who sat against 570 seats.
Read: Ridding campus of outside elements a test for DU authorities
Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, vice-chancellor of the university, unveiled the results at the Professor Abdul Matin Chowdhury Virtual Classroom next to his office around noon.
The ‘Gha unit’ admission test was held on October 23.
Ridding campus of outside elements a test for DU authorities
What is the worst thing about being a female student of Dhaka University? One can hardly deny that it is their insecurity on the campus.
“One evening, I was going to my dormitory. As I walked to the dorm, I could sense a man following me. At one stage, he actually overtook me and turned towards me, blocking my path and staring at me nastily. I felt nauseous and started shouting. The nearby students approached and got me out of that situation,” said a female student of the university wishing not to be named.
This harrowing account of a female residential student's experience while living on the Dhaka University (DU) campus is far from unique, and many in fact experience far worse things. It's all part of life on a more-or-less open campus in the middle of a busy metropolis where crime and violence are rampant.
Read: Dhaka University 'Ga’ unit results out, pass rate 21.75%
But isn't it the responsibility of DU authorities to do everything they can to provide these students with a more agreeable and conducive environment for academic pursuits?
The same student whose account we started with also says: "In our campus, we don't feel safe. There’re too many outsiders, vagabonds, drug addicts, beggars, muggers and floating people causing all sorts of difficulties and distractions."
For the reasons of safety, she prefers not to give her identity.
But many students, some under their own names and identities, share similar experiences in multiple Facebook groups run by the students. Some of them even complain about being hijacked.
Nasir Uddin Prince, Master’s student of Television, Film and Photography, was a victim of a hijacking on the campus a few days back. He is also General Secretary of the Socialist Students Front’s central committee. The hijacker took away his camera, lens, battery, charger and some important documents.
After so many incidents, DU students are now demanding a collective campaign to drive out vagabonds, drug addicts, beggars, muggers and floating people from campus, and to restrict the movement of outsiders and heavy vehicles on the campus grounds. Though the authorities did not take any steps at first, some students started working spontaneously to this end. They have driven out vagabonds from the campus and forced many heavy vehicles to redirect.
Read: 2.56 per cent pass DU ‘Cha’ unit admission test
After a while, the DU authorities seemed to come to their senses and started working for a secure campus. Recently, the university authorities urged outsiders not to stay on the campus without any necessity, to ensure the safety of students.
They have also been conducting drives for the last few days to eject outsiders with the help of law enforcement agencies.
All the makeshift shops in front of the Suhrawardy Udyan gate inside the campus were removed during a drive on November 16.
Julius Caesar Talukdar, founder of Dhaka University Nirapotta Moncha, an organisation that works for the safety of DU students and a safer campus, told UNB: "The university authorities can take steps to control traffic jams, muggings, drug peddling in the campus area. Setting up check posts at every entrance point of the campus (including Shahbagh, Doyel Chattar, Nilkhet, and the Palashi intersection) will be very helpful for that."
Asked to comment, DU proctor AKM Golam Rabbani acknowledged that too many people were gathering on the DU campus, mostly having no business there. Although this only started happening 'recently' according to him.
"It harms the environment of an educational institution," lamented the proctor. "Our students were forced to take steps to defend themselves. Then we took the matter seriously and have already started ensuring a safe and education-friendly campus for the students."
Read: Two Class X students die in Chandpur road crash
Now even the state's law enforcers, in the form of DMP (Dhaka Metropolitan Police), are being reeled in to prevent heavy vehicles moving through the campus. Although the proctor was not too impressed with the police's ham-handed response, in which they passed the buck for preventing heavy vehicles plying the campus area to Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity - an association of business owners in the transport sector.
"We’ve also eradicated the makeshift rickshaw stands from every entry point to the university," Proctor Golam Rabbani added, trying to assure they are taking the matter seriously.
Whether the measures taken are successful in solving the problem, only time will tell!
Dhaka University 'Ga’ unit results out, pass rate 21.75%
A total of 21.75% candidates have passed the ‘Ga’ unit admission test of Dhaka University.
The results of the test conducted by the Business Studies Faculty for the 2020-21 academic session were published Tuesday.
Some 5,079 students passed (both MCQ and written) the examination, out of 23,347 who sat for 1,250 seats.
Also read: Missing DU student found in Tangail jail for exam fraud
Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, vice-chancellor of the university, unveiled the results at the Professor Abdul Matin Chowdhury Virtual Classroom next to his office around noon.
The dean of the Business Studies Faculty, Prof Abdul Moin, and registrar Prabir Kumar Sarkar were present on the occassion.
Admission test results are available on the university website -- admission.eis.du.ac.bd -- and can also be checked by sending SMS 'DU GA <roll no>' to 16321.
The top 1,250 successful candidates can choose their preferred subject through the website between 28 and December 5.
Also read: 2.56 per cent pass DU ‘Cha’ unit admission test
For scrutiny of answer scripts, candidates will have to pay the necessary fees and contact the Dean of the Fine Arts Faculty between November 24 and 30.
Rape threat: Students give 24-hr ultimatum demanding bus helper’s arrest
Students of different colleges in Dhaka gave the authorities concerned a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest the bus staff who reportedly threatened to rape a female student.
Several hundred college students, including those of Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls College took to the streets at 10 am to press home their various demands, including the arrest of the bus helper, and put barricades at Bakshaibazar crossing, halting traffic.
They alleged that when a 2nd year student of Badrunnesa College wanted to pay half bus fare on Saturday, an assistant of a driver of a bus of ‘Thikana Paribahan’ threatened to rape her.
Also read: College students vandalise buses demanding half bus fare
'Education, learning no longer limited to boundaries'
In this age of globalisation, education and learning are no longer limited to a certain boundary.
Now and then, different sessions, webinars and workshops are being organised virtually, where international experts and academics shed light on different issues related to the overall development and future-fit skills, Dr Sandeep Ananthanarayanan, group chief executive officer of STS Group, told UNB.
"Students should explore every opportunity to learn and grow. Different professional networking sites can also help them gather insights about current market trends," he said.
"Workshops organised by study centres and universities can also help broaden the outlook of the students. When you are well aware of the changing scenario and have the necessary skills, it will be much easier to achieve your goals."
Read: Sohopathi: An Emerging Online Education Platform in Bangladesh
"Also, we are living in an age when only degrees are not enough to get you a good and respectable job. The market is very competitive now. Employers look for many things in a prospective candidate, including future-fit skills that are necessary to survive the changes thrust upon us by the pandemic and the subsequent digital transformation."
"So, when you are planning your career, you must keep in mind that only earning a degree is not going to help. Rather, you have to keep tabs on the changes going around you and in the market and develop skills accordingly to stay ahead of others. Different sessions arranged by international universities can be a good opportunity," Sandeep said.
"Meanwhile, the pandemic has resulted in a very unfavourable situation for students and job-seekers. Geographical barriers and restrictions imposed due to coronavirus have compounded the situation further. So, people are having trouble getting suitable jobs. At such a time, you need the right degree with the right set of skills."
"When you are pursuing higher education, you must have the right insights and skills in your possession to thrive in a particular environment defying all odds. Moreover, it is important to develop different future-fit skills in the backdrop of changing market scenarios to flourish your career and excel in the study as well."
Read: Govt ‘eyes partnership’ with non-formal education sector
In this regard, workshops in skill development can play great roles as the students get the chance to acquire new skills and gather knowledge, said Sandeep.
Also, owing to the pandemic, many countries halted educational opportunities and overseas programmes for quite some time. However, with the vaccination underway in full swing, many others are opening their doors once again.
But it is often seen that many students from Bangladesh cannot pursue higher degrees abroad because of different constraints, including financial burden and sudden shock created by a different education system.
So, many students are deprived of quality higher education. In many countries, foreign universities open study centres to facilitate the aspiring students and create opportunities for them to seek a higher degree from a foreign university.
"There are many public and private universities in the country which are offering different degrees to aspiring students. Most recently, Monash College Australia has started its operation in Bangladesh, which will contribute to developing the higher education scenario in the country in terms of academic reputation, international faculty ratio and research opportunities," said Sandeep.
The STS Group's group chief executive officer has worked with eminent professors from world-class universities such as Wharton, Yale, Kellogg and Stanford and also the co-author of the best-seller "CULT: Strategy and Leadership & Business Strategy – Ruthlessly Redefined" and the author of "Power Business Strategies."
STS Group operates DPS STS School, International School Dhaka and Monash College-UCB Center – Bangladesh's first and the only government-approved international education institution.
IU's viva voce to begin Nov 28
Islamic University in Kushtia will hold viva voce, an oral examination, from November 28 to 30 for students who have qualified the written test for admission to honours courses of the theology and Islamic studies faculty.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the ‘D’ unit admission test committee, chaired by IU vice-chancellor Prof Shaikh Abdus Salam, IU officials said.
Also read: IU Day to be celebrated Monday
The viva voce will be held on the fourth floor of the Arts faculty building of the university, IU ‘D’ unit coordinator Prof Yaqub Ali said.
Eligible students have been asked to carry original SSC and HSC certificates and mark sheets as well as the admit card and eight coloured photos.
More information is available at www.iu.ac.bd, he added.
Also read: IU Shapla Forum election Saturday
5 freshmen beaten up at DU hall for hailing end to guest room culture
Five students of Dhaka University's Sir AF Rahman Hall were allegedly beaten up by seniors, also Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, following a Facebook post on Thursday.
The victim students are-- Rubel Hossain and Al-Amin Hamid of Management department, Bulbul Ahmed and Rana Hossain of Islamic Studies department and Md Emdadul of Finance department. They all are first year students residing in the hall.
The accused students are Lalon Hossain of Geography and Environment department, Ariful Islam Arif and Asif Hossain of Marketing Department and Wajid Tawsif of Music Department. The accused are all second year students and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists.
Sources from the hall said recently, a first year student and resident of the hall was beaten up seriously. After that, the organizing secretary of BCL hall committee Saleh Uddin Saju issued an instruction to end the 'Guest Room culture' in the hall.
Read:Female student complains of harassment at DU dorm
The 'guest room culture' refers to a practice whereby senior students, particularly politically active ones -usually BCL leaders now- gather junior students in a hall room under the pretext of political sensitisation sessions to more casual get-togethers.
But these sessions have long been criticized as the setting for seniors to harass and torture junior students physically and mentally.
That's why residents of the hall posted their positive reactions on Facebook to the instruction by Saju, welcoming it.
However, the accused BCL activists called all the first-year students of the hall to the guest room and harassed them.
The five students were later beaten separately by the four second-year students around 10pm on Thursday, said a first-year student at the hall, who declined to be named.
He added that BCL leader Lalon Hossain had beaten up the students. The accused tortured them in various ways till 12am.
The victims declined to comment fearing further torture.
When contacted, accused Lalon Hossain flatly denied the allegations. "There was no guest room in the hall, and no such incident of torture took place," he said.
Read: DU authority asks public not to enter campus unnecessarily
Meanwhile, Saleh Uddin Ahmed Saju, who had given the positive instruction against guest room culture, said he discussed the matter with everyone after being informed. But the victims said nothing in this regard.
Saju said he has warned everyone not to let such incidents happen again.
Professor Saiful Islam Khan, Provost of Sir AF Rahman Hall, told UNB that he had not received any complaint from the students.
"I heard about it from the media," he said.
"We need the permission of the administration to hold any kind of congregation in the guest room. No such permission was taken regarding this. However, I have asked the house tutor of the concerned block to look into the matter," the provost added.