DU
All DU students to get smart ID cards by next February, say authorities
As many Dhaka University students face numerous problems for not having a proof of their studentship the university authorities hope to provide smart ID cards to all undergraduate students by next month. This optimism has been voiced by Prof. Mustafizur Rahman, convener of DU online admission committee, in an interview with UNB this week. Dhaka University, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding, has over 37,000 regular students in its 83 departments under 13 faculties. About 2,000 of the students or over six per cent are yet to get any proper ID cards of their studentship.
Read: Legal notice served on Dhaka University for barring married students from halls For the lack the cards of their identity the students are facing problems such as borrowing books from the university library and in getting the recently-introduced half-fare ride in public transports. Besides, having this historic institution’s ID cards is also a matter of pride for the students. Transport operators have recently agreed to accept half-fare from students at every level provided they can show their IDs issued by their educational institutions. Most of the students without ID cards are from the social science faculty consisting 16 departments.
DU Salimullah Hall Alumni to get together on Jan 22
The Alumni Association of Salimullah Muslim Hall of Dhaka University (DU) is going to organise a reunion on 22 January, marking the birth centenary of the dormitory.
The programme will be held at Sultana Kamal Women's Complex in the city’s Dhanmandi area, said a press release on Monday.
All the members of the alumni are requested to register by January 15 at its office at Rupayan Trade Centre in the capital’s Banglamotor area.
READ: Provost committee: Married female students can stay in DU halls
Dhaka University began its journey in 1921 with three residential halls-- the Muslim Hall (Salimullah Muslim Hall), Jagannath Hall, and Dhaka Hall (later renamed Dr. Muhammad Shahidulla Hall).
Salimullah Muslim Hall was named after Nawab Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur. Among the residential halls of Dhaka University, Salimullah Muslim Hall holds a special status due to its heritage.
READ: DU hall expels third-year student for torturing junior in dorm
Over the past 100 years, it has hosted thousands of renowned graduates who have been contributing to the advancement of the country as well as the globe.
10th Sanjeeb Utshab held at TSC
An album of songs and poems written by noted singer, composer and political activist Sanjeeb Chowdhury titled “Ami Tomake Boley Debo” has been unveiled to mark his birthday which is celebrated as Sanjeeb Utsav.
Sanjeeb Utshab Utjapon Porishad arranged a cultural show to mark the day on Saturday at TSC’s Sanjeev Square.
The album named after late singer’s one of the popular numbers was created by Joy Shahriar and published by his publishing house, Aajob.
Also read: 8th Sanjeeb Utshab held at DU
Joy Shahriar, also one of the organisers of this event said, it’s been 14 years ‘Sanjeeb daa’ is not with us. We organise this festival in his memory. Our aim is to pass on his philosophy and songs to those who have not met him.”
Shubhayatra, Joy Shahriar, Subconscious, Bay of Bengal, were among the performers at this event.
Also read: DU celebrates Boshonto Utshab 1425
Sanjeeb Chowdhury, a student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, died in 2007 at the age of 42 years.
Some of his popular songs are - Ami Tomake Boley Debo, Rangila, Samudra Sontan, Jochna Bihar, Bioscope, Chader Jonno Gaan.
DU’s Shahidullah Hall alumni to get together on Jan 22
Former Dhaka University students, attached to its Shahidullah Hall, are going to reunite on January 22 to share campus memories, marking the birth centenary of the traditional dormitory.
Shahidullah Hall Alumni Association will arrange the reunion, said a press release on Thursday.
The daylong programme will be held simultaneously on the hall premises and at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The alumni members can get registered directly at its hall office or online (https://www.dushaa.org/fbclid=IwAR0l_3RKpZjVd5mNYyDJF221QadPHeOxemBwxCwid2aAOUWrDodhjhd6-Iw)
Also read: DU IML form Alumni Association
Meanwhile, Hall Provost Prof Mohammad Zabed Hossain issued a message on the birth centenary of the hall.
In the message, he said, “Being one of the first three halls of students’ residence that started journey with the University of Dhaka, Dr. Muhammad Shahidulla Hall is happy to celebrate its birth centenary in 2021.”
Over the past 100 years, it has hosted thousands of renowned graduates who have been contributing to the advancement of society, nation and the globe as well, Prof Zabed said.
Also read: DU MCJ alumni reunion held
“I congratulate all the proud graduates and current students for being part of this historical hall,” he said.
‘Want justice for my slain daughter’: Meghla’s father
Saiful Islam, father of Elma Chowdhury Meghla, has demanded justice for her daughter as she was reportedly tortured to death by her husband and in-laws.
"I want justice for the killing of my daughter… I demand death penalty of the killers,” Saiful Islam said while speaking at a human-chain programme on Monday.
Dhaka University’s Dhamrai Students Association Forum arranged the human-chain programme at the foot of anti-terrorism Raju sculpture around 10: 30 am demanding justice for the murder of Elma, a member of the organisation.
Also read: DU student Meghla's husband held for 'her murder'
"There’s every possibility of interference in the judicial procedures as the accused are powerful. My humble request to the Prime Minister is to ensure a quick investigation into the killing of my daughter and punishment of the killers," said Elma's father.
Dazzling fireworks bring curtains down on DU's centenary celebrations
Victory rallies, a slew of cultural programmes and dazzling fireworks officially rang down the curtains to the celebrations of 100 years of Dhaka University (DU) and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence on Thursday.
University authorities chose December 16 to end the over fortnight-long celebrations to mark the 51st Victory Day of Bangladesh.
Also read: Centenary celebration of Dhaka University begins Wednesday
DU Solar Project: Tariff issue remains pending with Power Division for a final decision
Three years since the move, no headway has been made in the project to install rooftop solar power on Dhaka University campus due to tariff dispute.
After long negotiations between three parties—DPDC, sponsor company and the Dhaka University authorities—the issue now remains pending with the Power Division for a final decision, said the relevant official sources.
READ: Sreda launches training on solar power system
According to thevsources, DPDC received an unsolicited proposal from Bengal Solar, a local private firm, in 2019 to set up a 5 MW solar plant on the independent power producer (IPP) model through installing solar systems on the rooftop of the 72 residential, academic and administrative buildings.
The Bengal solar offered the tariff for the electricity at 10.25 Cents (equivalent to Tk 8.7125 per kilowatt hour (each unit) to sell it to the DPDC.
The sponsor company also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Dhaka University to rent out its rooftops for the green project.
But after submission of the proposal, the DPDC found the proposed tariff “higher than expected rate”, said a top official of the distribution company.
Later a tripartite meeting took place between the project’s private sponsor, rooftop provider and the power purchaser, but tariff remained a bone of contention between the stakeholders, sources in DPDC and DU said.
At one stage, the sources said, when the net-metering policy was introduced by the government to facilitate the consumers' sale of unconsumed solar power to distribution companies, DPDC officials had skipped the negotiations and offered DU to sell the electricity under the new policy, which finally caused the delay in settling the issue.
And seeing the unusual delay, the DU authorities recently wrote a letter to the Power Secretary to intervene and settle the power tariff issue and expedite the project execution, UNB has learnt.
Finally, the DPDC made a detailed analysis of the tariff and sent the proposal to the Power Division a few months back seeking further directives on the issue.
Chief Engineer of DPDC Mohiuddin Ahmed informed that the DPDC forwarded the Bengal Solar’s proposal to the Power Division with full analysis.
“We’re now waiting for the further directive of the Power Division to settle the issue”, he told UNB.
Earlier DPDC had unsuccessfully tried to pursue different government agencies, including the Food Directorate, the Shilpakala Academy, the Women and Children Directorate, and the Education Directorate, for using their rooftops for the project, but none agreed.
Mohiuddin, however, said, though DPDC has failed to implement solar projects on different government office buildings, it has successfully installed solar systems on the rooftop of its own 36 office buildings.
READ: Bangladesh seeks EU support for regional hydropower, solar projects
Officials said the DPDC has initiated the move for solar power projects as part of the government plan to generate 10 percent electricity from solar system by 2020 to promote renewable energy across the country.
As per statistics of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda), the country’s solar power generation still remains at 542.44 MW while the total power generation capacity is over 23,000 MW.
DU seminar: Revolutionise cinema for evolution of reflective films
Reflective cinema creates political awareness, and for the evolution of such cinemas Bangladesh needs a revolution in films, said Dr Naadir Junaid, professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University in a talk on Thursday.
“Along with that, the government's interest is also needed”, he said at a seminar titled,” Thoughtfulness and political awareness in Bangladeshi cinema,” arranged by the Higher Social Science Research Center on the campus.
Prof Junaid said it is necessary to evaluate Bangladesh’s success in making reflective or thoughtful films after the liberation war.
It’s necessary to take up risk for realistic filmmaking, he said. He mentioned how Zahir Raihan had taken risk by making metaphorically political film “Jibon Theke Neya’ in then-East Pakistan and Tareque Masud by making “Matir Moyna” in independent Bangladesh.
Read: IAFM plans to produce 13 full-length films in 2022
“Even Satyajit Ray had to hear many times who would go to watch an 80-year-old woman in a song-less, dance-less film. Many times, the production of his masterpiece ‘Pother Panchali’ got hindered due to financial crisis but he didn’t compromise a bit with his film’s high artistic value.”
He said a film becomes reflective and political when a filmmaker, aesthetically through new and attractive filmmaking or film language, presents a story that reflects the depth of thoughts.
As one can’t make such films following typical formats and methods, reflective cinemas doesn’t prioritize commercial success, said Junaid
He questioned the audience whether any contemporary film in Bangladesh has challenged the ongoing issues of corruption, persecution of minorities, religious bigotry and intolerance, disinterest to learn history in youth, tailgating behind powerful people.
He mentioned films like ‘Dhire Bohe Meghna’ ( 1973), Surjo Konna (1975), ‘Rupali Soikot’ (1979) that have addressed issues of dilemma, depression of society of that time, the weak position of women in a patriarchal society, military regime, and political protests and thus created political awareness in the audience.
Read: Three Bangladeshi films selected for Busan International Film Festival
The seminar was presided over by Dr Zia Rahman, director of the research center and professor of the Criminology department while Dr AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, professor of the department of Television, Film and Photography was another key speaker.
Dr Shafiul Alam said film is a powerful mass medium to create political awareness and comedy can be used for that too if done in an unconventional way.
“It has become a challenge for the filmmakers nowadays to come out of the trend of following shallow scripts aiming at only earning money and making political cinema,” he said.
Nagad becomes DU's partner in centenary celebrations
Mobile financial service Nagad has become a part of Dhaka University's centenary celebrations.
"On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the university, we requested Nagad to decorate our campus while maintaining academic rules. Their effort is admirable. They showed how to decorate the campus with an academic flavour in an innovative way," DU Vice-Chancellor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman said Sunday.
As part of the celebrations, Nagad Managing Director Tanvir A Mishuk handed over the wristbands for DU students to Dr Akhtaruzzaman during a programme at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building today.
Also read: Centenary celebration of Dhaka University begins Wednesday
President Abdul Hamid, who is the chancellor of the university, inaugurated the four-day celebrations – themed "Dhaka University in the Light of Centenary" – on December 1.
The administrative building, Teachers-Student Centre, student dormitories and various installations of the university have been decorated with commemorative photos.
DU, which started its journey in 1921, completed its 100th year on July 1 this year. But the centenary celebrations were deferred due to the pandemic.
Also read: Nagad to sponsor DRU’s best reporting award
With a change in the situation, the university has started to celebrate its centenary through different programmes.
Tanvir A Mishuk, co-founder and managing director of Nagad, said, "It is a great achievement for the country as its lighthouse, the University of Dhaka, is celebrating its centenary. We are very happy to be part of the celebrations."
Degrees not enough, achieve global standards, President tells DU students
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday asked every student to achieve international standards along with academic degrees.
"As the number of students in Dhaka University has increased over time, so has the scope of its infrastructure and educational activities," the President said.
"Competition has also been internationalised for the benefit of modern science and information technology. So, every student has to obtain international standards along with degrees," he said.
President Hamid was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Dhaka University's 16-day programme in celebration of the centenary of its founding. The programme will also mark the golden jubilee of the country’s independence.
Read: Bury differences for national unity to build Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla: President Hamid
Hamid, who virtually attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest from his official residence, said that the university authorities also need to consider world standards in determining curriculum and teaching.
The President said that parents and guardians send their children to university with high hopes and aspirations.
"Besides, the country and the people invest for educating them. The students have to acquire the ability to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the family, the country and the people," he added.
Hamid said that the expansion of infrastructure, faculty members, students, departments and institutes contributes to the development of a university but the quality of education and research is the key indicator.
"Higher education institutions, including universities, have to come forward to enhance the quality of education and the capacity of students, taking into account the needs and qualifications of the national and international labour market."