Islamic University, Feb 22 (UNB) – The International Scouts Day was observed at Islamic University in Kushtia on Friday.

A daylong programme, including national and black flags hoisting, a procession, discussion, cultural sessions, quiz completion and prize giving ceremony, were held on the campus.

IU Rover Scout Leader (RSL) Professor Kamrul Hasan and RSL Prof Aminul Islam hoisted the national and black flags at IU Rover Den around 9am.

IU Rover Scout group brought out a colorful procession, led by its President M Mustafa Kamal, from in front of the university’s Birshrestha Hamidur Rahman Auditorium. The procession ended at the same place after parading through the campus.

A cake-cutting ceremony was held at the Rover Scout office on the occasion of the birth anniversary of its founder Lord Baden Powell. A cultural festival, quiz competition, sports contest and prize giving ceremony were also held.

Dhaka, Feb 22 (UNB) - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have offered condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the tragic fire of Old Dhaka that claimed 67 lives.

They sent separate condolence messages to President M Abdul Hamid as a fire ripped through buildings in the capital, resulting in deaths and injuries, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh.

In his message, the King said: "We’ve learned of the news of the blaze took hold in the Chawkbazar area in Dhaka and resulted in a considerable number of deaths and injuries.”

“In my own name and on behalf of the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we express our sincere condolences to you, the families of victims and the people of People's Republic of Bangladesh, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery,” the message reads.

In his message, the Crown Prince said, "I’ve learned of the news of the blaze took hold in the Chawkbazar area in Dhaka and resulted in a considerable number of deaths and injuries. I express my sincere condolences to Your Excellency and the families of victims, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery."

Cumilla, Feb 22 (UNB) – Detective Branch (DB) police on Friday detained three people in connection with the case filed over the murder of navy man Meherab Hossain from Bhanti village in Burichang upazila.  

The arrestees--Shlanol Union Parishad member Kamal Hossain, auto-rickshaw driver Monir and irrigation-pump operator Harun—have been taken to the DB office for interrogation, said Akul Chandra Bikas, officer-in-charge of Burichang Police Station.

However, the UP member was released later in the evening on condition, said the OC.

Family members said that Meherab joined Bangladesh navy in January 2018. After training in Khulna, he has been transferred to Chattogram as a Navy soldier.

On Wednesday, he came to his village and informed his mother that he had reached at Alekharchar highway and haired an auto-rickshaw for home, but didn’t return home.

As he did not reach home on time, his family members stared searching him and found his body on the bank of the Gumti River, they added.

Later, Meherab’s mother filed a murder case with Burichang Police Station accusing several unknown people.

Meherab was hacked to death on his way to home, the OC added.

Dhaka, Feb 22 (UNB) - Bangladesh missions abroad observed the Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day on Thursday in a befitting manner with a call for upholding the values of 1952 and 1971.

The programmes started with the hoisting of the national flag at half-mast by the heads of mission in presence of the officials, foreign guests and expatriate Bangladeshis in respective countries, according to messages received from various missions.

Amar Ekushey messages issued by President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam were read out in the missions.

Special prayers were offered seeking divine blessings for the language heroes and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The programmes were rounded off with various activities, including rendering of patriotic and Language Movement songs.
 

Dhaka, Feb 22 (UNB) - Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Professor Abdul Mannan on Friday said that university teachers should be recruited based on their merit, right skills and attitude.

The process should be transparent, said the UGC Chairman while addressing a day-long workshop on ‘Annual Performance Management: Perspective Shahjalal University of Science and Technology’ at the SUST campus as the chief guest.

“Don’t minimize the basic requirements in recruitment criteria for giving undue advantage to a specific person or persons,” he said.

He also declared that corruption should not exist at any level in the university, said a UGC press release.

Providing quality education should be priority of any university in the country, he added.

SUST Vice-chancellor Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed said all need to ensure good governance at institutions of Bangladesh.

He said SUST appoint teachers on the basis of merit and the recruitment process is always transparent.

The VC also said his university took zero tolerance against ragging, sexual harassment, corruption, drugs and militancy.

Dean of the School of Social Sciences Professor Dr Md Abdul Ghani, Private University Division Director of UGC Dr Fakhrul Islam and Registrar of SUST Mohd Isfaqul Hussain and its Deputy Registrar AFM Miftaul Haque addressed the workshop.

Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Cultural Affairs Md Kamrul Hasan, Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Education Zakia Pervin and Md Nazrul Islam, Senior Assistant Director of UGC were the resources persons.

Zafor Ahommed Jahangir, Joint Secretary, Md Shah Alom, Additional Director, Md Shahin Siraj, Deputy Secretary and Shah Mohammad Aminul Islam, Deputy Director of UGC, among others, were present.

Faculty members of the university, senior officials from UGC, SUST and focal points of six public universities took part in the workshop.