education
Professor Dr Abu Taher made new Chittagong University VC
University Grants Commission (UGC) member and Professor of management department of Chittagong University (CU) Dr Md Abu Taher has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the university.
The Education Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday.
With the approval of the President and Chancellor of the university and as per Section 12 (2) of the Chittagong University Act, 1973, Dr. Taher has been temporarily appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University.
Be friendly with children: PM to guardians
The notification also states that the President, also the Chancellor of the university, can cancel the appointment at any time if deemed necessary.
Prof. Abu Taher, hailing from of Kanchana in Satkania upazila, completed higher education and research from Chittagong University, Inha University of South Korea and A & M University of Texas, USA.
After passing the BCS examination in 1985, Abu Taher started teaching at Government Commerce College. In 1995, he joined Chittagong University as a teacher in the Department of Management.
Later, he became a professor of the department in 2004.
Abantika’s death: JnU students place 6-point demand
The students of Jagannath University have placed new 6-point demands following the suicide of fellow student Fairuz Abantika, a student of 2017-2018 academic year of Law department of Jagannath University.
Today (March 17), after a torch lit procession, the general students of the university raised their demand.
The demands are - Immediate investigation should be done and permanent expulsion of student Amman Siddique and teacher Deen Islam from Jagannath University, the then Proctoral Body including Proctor Mustafa Kamal and all those related to the accused should be brought to justice subject to investigation, to ensure that all the previous oppressions are brought to justice as soon as possible, an impartial anti-harassment cell should be formed as soon as possible and complaint boxes should be set up in every department, specialist psychologists should be appointed in the university and no interns should be employed, the demands given by the administration should be implemented within the next 7 working days.
They said that according to their ultimatum, the administration has been able to arrest the accused. The administration has promised them more. They hope that it will be effectfull. “Abantika is technically killed. So they want justice.”
Meanwhile, under the banner of general students, the Socialist Student Front (SSF) held a symbolic protest program with black badge on their faces and ropes around their necks.
Socialist Student Front’s coordinator Ivan Tahseeb said, “Abantika's death is not suicide, it is a murder. Now the victim is blamed. Abantika was brave. She protested injustice. We want to know why Abantika's charge sheet submitted to the proctor's office did not reach the VC.”
Earlier, the first meeting of the investigation committee formed by Jagannath University was held today at noon. Apart from this, the Jagannath University administration organized a milad mahfil at the central mosque of JnU to pray for the departed soul of Abantika.
Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim, treasurer of the university Prof. Humayun Kabir Chowdhury along with Teachers Association and Proctoral Team were present at the event.
Be friendly with children: PM to guardians
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday advised the guardians to become friendly with their children to keep them away from menaces lik terrorism, militancy, drug and corruption.
“There should be a friendly relation with parents. If so, they (children) can’t go astray. They must be given the lesson of honesty from their childhood to keep them away from terrorism, militancy, drug and corruption,” she said.
The premier was addressing a programme organised at Tungipara in Gopalganj to celebrate the 104th birthday anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children Day-2024.
She said the children should be engaged in extracurricular activities like sports, painting, music, and other cultural exercises and religious education alongside their classes.
PM pays tribute to Father of the Nation on his birth anniversary
“I would like to request guardians and teachers that you should pay attention so that the children would be imbued with human values on the one hand and on the other hand they get scopes to flourish their latent talents,” she said.
Noting that education is very essential, Hasina asked the guardians and teachers not to create any undue pressure on the children in the name of education.
She said the children should learn their lessons through sports that would create scope to develop their hidden talent. “We want to go ahead making curriculum accordingly, "she added.
She said in Digital Bangladesh the children now can see the world through digital devices.
“So, they can learn not only by reading the textbooks but also by watching with their eyes. And then they would be smart citizens in Smart Bangladesh. We want it, she added.
The Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged the programme under the management of Gopalganj district administration.
This year the theme of the day is "Bangabandhu’r Swapna Dhore, Anbo Hasi Sobar Ghore (Smiles to be brought to every house with implementation of the dream of Bangabandhu).”
Stand by common people during Ramadan instead of hosting Iftar parties: PM Hasina
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simeen Hussain (Rimi), Women and Children Affairs Secretary Nazma Mobarek, and child Tayeba Tasmeen (on behalf of the children) spoke at the function.
Child Piyasha Jamil presided over the function, jointly moderated by two children Abdur Rahman and Lamiatul Bari.
Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sabirul Islam and Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Kazi Mahbubul Alam were also on the stage.
Cabinet members, members of parliament, political leaders and high officials were present in the programme.
A documentary titled ‘Bangabandhu and Children Rights’ was screened.
The prime minister distributed prizes among the winners of quiz, painting, recitation, patriotic song and dance competition organized by Gopalganj District Administration on the occasion of 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2024.
Besides, 104 insolvent students received Tk 5,000 as a financial donation on the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s Birthday and Children’s Day.
Accused teacher in JnU student Fairuz's suicide note releases statement
Teacher Deen Islam, who was named by Jagannath University student Fairuz Sadaf Abantika as one of two persons responsible for her death before committing suicide on Friday, has tried to explain his position by releasing a statement, that is reproduced in full below:
“Assalamu Alaikum,
I am Deen Islam
Assistant Professor,
Department of Management Education,
Jagannath University.
Firstly I am a human, secondly I am a teacher, thirdly I am a father of two daughters. I request you to listen carefully to my words and run after the real facts. Please don't put my life in danger and orphan my children.
I deeply saddened by the untimely death of Fairuz Sadaf Abantika, a 13th batch student of Jagannath University Law Department. I pray for the forgiveness of Abantika's departed soul.
I am sharing the true story of our student Abantika and her classmates:
The incident was about one and a half years ago. Abantika's batchmates made a general diary (GD) at Kotwali police station where Abantika was also present. GD mentioned that someone harassed them by opening a fake account on Facebook. The police then assured a higher investigation and said that they will find out who is maintaining the ID within the next 72 hours. Hearing this, Abantika confessed to her friends on her way out of the police station and on her way to the campus that she was running the ID (fake account) herself. Then her friends brought her to the proctor's office and filed a written complaint against Abantika on 08.08.2022.
In view of the complaint, Mustafa Kamal, who was the proctor of that time, assigned me and Assistant Proctor Gautam Kumar Saha (Mathematics Department) Sir to investigate on 11.08.2022.
Later on16.08.2022, in the presence of proctor sir, I and assistant proctor Gautam Kumar Saha called Abantika and her parents to come to the proctor's office. Then Abantika's mother came to the meeting and everyone including Abantika's classmates (who had complained) were present. Abantika's mother then hears the truth of the incident to her batchmates (who have complained). Then she said that what her daughter has done is wrong, sincerely apologizes to all those who complained about the incident and promises that her daughter will not do such things again in future and said that if she will do the same thing, they will take her responsibility. Her mother requested to forgive for this time and said, “My daughter is a good student but she is mentally ill for few days and is taking medicine.”
Then her batchmates looked at it humanely and forgivingly. In this way the matter is initially settled. After that, Abantika's mother repeatedly requested the complainants to withdraw the GD. But the complainants refused to withdraw the GD, as they felt Abantika might repeat such behavior in future.
Then it was not possible to withdraw the GD immediately. Complainants said that they will observe her for the next 3 months and if Abantika returns to normal then they will withdraw the GD after 3 months. Troubles are primarily resolved here. A few days later Abantika and her mother came to the university and instead of meeting in the proctor's office, they came to my department as in my area I treated them as best I could. As she is from my area and she is a guardian I treated her with maximum from my place. On that day, Abantika's mother told me that Abantika's dormitory friends are not treating her well and she is mentally broken.
I then advised them to complain in writing to the proctor's office. Then Abantika's mother said that after what has happened, she doesn't want to do it and said she won't keep her daughter in the dormitory, it will make her studies worse and she will be more mentally broken. Then I told her that she can do what she feels best as a parent. I will continue to cooperate in any need. More than 3 months after the complaint was settled, Abantika and her parents came to the proctor's office to withdraw the GD but her batchmates refused. Then Abantika's parents and Abantika again called me and came to meet in my department.
That time I was taking class. Then and after leaving the class I took them to my room and treated them as best I could. Then they requested me to withdraw GD. I then tried to explain to them that it was out of my hands. Our job is to investigate and report and that's what we were doing. I suggested them to talk to proctor sir and complainers about GD and settle the matter.
Immediately Abantika's mother said in a disappointing tone, “I have been living with two (Abantika and her father) depression patients for so many years. I am also getting very sick and my daughter is suffering from severe depression.” After that I have not had any contact with Abantika and her family till today.”
Deen Islams comment on Abantika's Facebook status before her death:
“First of all the allegations given against me of cooperating with Amman in various ways, which are completely false and baseless. Because the incident that took place on 16/08/2022 was solved. Then there was no discussion with anyone about the matter.
Abantika and her mother were called only once in the proctor's office. At that time Proctor Mustafa Kamal Sir, Assistant Proctor Gautam Saha Sir and her friends, who complained, were present. The issue of multiple calls and harassment is completely false and baseless. Because the matter was settled that day.
The then-Proctor Mustafa Kamal Sir can say well about the non-trial of sexual harassment and intimidation charges brought against Amman in the Proctor's Office in the Suicide Note. I am not aware of this complaint.
I never said anything about the expulsion of Abantika in the suicide note later. Because after the matter was settled, I have not talked or communicated with Abantika or her family even once in the last one and a half years.
“Something I have to say-
As a teacher, it is my moral responsibility to stand by the students and work for them. In the long 11 years of teaching life, I have been with the students with my best. Insh'Allah, I will continue to be in the future.
It is requested not to think wrongly by depending only on the status.
I am fully prepared to provide full cooperation to the University administration and other law enforcement agencies to unravel the true mystery of this unexpected incident.
It is requested to make decisions and comments after knowing the right information.
Thank you everyone.”
Pay 100 percent festival bonus before Eid: Private Teachers-Employees Forum
The leaders of Bangladesh Private Teachers-Employees Forum (BPTEF), a platform of the private institutions teachers and employees, demanded the payment of cent percent of the festival allowances before Eid and removal of all discrimination from the education sector.
They made the demand at a discussion meeting at the Purana Paltan Azad Center on Saturday, organised by the Dhaka City Unit of the organisation, which as an umbrella for the teachers and staff at schools not enlisted in the government's Monthly Pay Order - hence 'private'.
The meeting, with Principal Maulana AKM Mahabubur Rahman in the chair, was addressed by BPTEF President Principal Md. Mainuddin, Principal Emranul Haque, Vice-Principal Md Abdur Rahman, Principal Sahidul Islam, Assistant Professor SM Abdul Hamid, Assistant Professor Md Ismail Hossain, and Assistant Professor Mohibullah Jami.
The program was moderated by the Vice President of the forum Md. Abdur Rahman.
Speakers in the meeting said teachers-employees of the private educational institutions are the victims of different discriminations and deprived of their legitimate rights of 100 percent festival allowances.
Demanding the elimination of discrimination in the education sector under MPO, they said all the Ibtedayee madrasa have to be nationalised.
Speakers also said that currently there is no provision for transfer for private teachers while they are not getting festival allowances like Eid bonus. They are not getting full medical allowance, time scale, home loan, or promotion or pension.
They said only nationalisation of all educational institutions can resolve these problems.
They observed that although thousands of primary schools have been nationalised(meaning enlisted in the MPO), no single Ibtedayee madrasa was nationalised which is clear evidence of discrimination in the education sector.
Fairuz’s death by suicide sparks protest at JnU; accused asst proctor relieved, classmate suspended
Hours after death of Jagannath University student Fairuz Abantika by suicide, massive protest broke out and continued till Saturday morning, demanding justice for the student.
Fairuz Abantika, a student of the 2017-18 academic year of Jagannath University (JnU) Law Department, hanged herself at her Cumilla residence after accusing her classmate and the assistant proctor of the university in a Facebook post around 10 pm on Friday.
Amid protests of the students, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim came to the campus after 1 am. Initially the protesting students did not allow the VC to enter the campus. After a while, they let the VC in.
JnU student commits suicide after posting note on Facebook
The Vice Chancellor then assured them that a fair investigation will be conducted as per the laws of the university.
General students under the banner of ‘Jagannath University Against Oppression, called for a rally on the campus at 3 pm on Saturday, demanding maximum punishment of the accused.
Fairuz’s namaz-e-janaza will be held at her own hometown Cumilla at 12 pm today.
Meanwhile, the university administration relieved assistant proctor Deen Islam from her duty and suspended classmate Amman Siddique.
Besides, the university administration has formed a four-member probe committee with Masum Billah, dean of the Faculty of Law, as the convener and Law Officer Ranjan Kumar Das as the member secretary. The other members of the committee are the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Abul Hossain and Music Department Chairman Jhumur Ahmed.
In her Facebook post before committing suicide, Fairuz Abantika said that her classmate Amman Siddique and assistant proctor Deen Islam would be responsible for her suicide.
Locals taking matters into their own hands as police fail to act on complaint against CU BCL unit
'If I ever die by suicide, my classmate Amman Siddiqui and assistant proctor Deen Islam, who supported him, will be solely responsible for my death. I complained to the Proctor's office that Amman was threatening me offline and also online but I did not get any benefit. Deen Islam scares me in many ways for the sake of Amman. He said that expelling me is very easy for him. I know I won't get any justice here,” she wrote.
JnU student commits suicide after posting note on Facebook
Fairuz Abantika, a student of the 2017-18 academic year of Jagannath University (JnU) Law Department, committed suicide by hanging herself after posting on Facebook.
Today, (March 15) around 10 pm, Fairuz first posted about her committing suicide post on Facebook. Then she committed suicide by hanging herself. Later she was immediately rescued and taken to the district headquarters hospital. The doctors at the hospital said that she was no more.
In the Facebook post, Abantika mentioned that her classmate Amman Siddique of her same department and assistant proctor Deen Islam would be responsible for her suicide. In her Facebook post, Abantika wrote, 'If I ever die by suicide, my classmate Amman Siddiqui and assistant proctor Deen Islam, who supported him, will be solely responsible for my death. I complained to Proctor's office that Amman was threatening me offline and also online but I did not get any benefit. Deen Islam scares me in many ways for the sake of Amman. He said that expelling me is very easy for him. I know I won't get any justice here.”
In her post, she also mentions, "I am asking the vice-chancellor Sadeka Halim ma'am to judge it as the guardian of this institution. And I am dying by hanging.”
The student Amman Siddique was contacted several times but could not be found.
However, Assistant Proctor Deen Islam, whose name is mentioned in the post, said, “I saw the girl almost one and a half years ago. Some of their classmates come to the proctor's office. At that time the then proctor Mustafa Kamal sir, myself and some other assistant proctors were in the office. The girl used to send SMS to her friends using a fake ID. We were told that a complaint had been filed with the police station. Later the girl confessed her guilt. Then her family members requested to withdraw the GD. Then all the proctorial team met and decided to keep her under observation for three months. GD will be withdrawn if there is no problem. I never spoke to the girl alone. CCTV footage or a written complaint in the proctor's office can also be understood. Please investigate the incident. Punish me if I am guilty. But please don't make me guilty in advance. Otherwise, I will have to commit suicide also.”
In this regard, Jagannath University Proctor Prof. Dr. Jahangir Hossain said, “We have learnt about the matter. The dead student accused one of our Proctoral Team members as responsible for her death. The Honourable Vice-Chancellor has orally given an order to suspend him temporarily. Further action will be taken subject to investigation in the legal process.”
Locals taking matters into their own hands as police fail to act on complaint against CU BCL unit
Locals in Hathazari have blocked the road out of Gate No. 1 and the Rail Crossing area of Chattogram University (CU) following an altercation with activists of ruling party student front Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL) CU unit.
CFC, a sub-group of CU BCL, blocked the main gate of the university over the incident today.
Tensions have been boiling over since Tuesday, when a chase and counter-chase took place between the CU BCL and locals following an altercation involving a local AL leader and BCL activists.
Following the tense situation, some agitated locals are now targeting and attacking general students of the university, reports our Chattogram correspondent.
Shahadat Hossain and Mayeesha (surname unknown), two students of the 2018-19 batch, were beaten up this afternoon in such an instance.
Locals alleged that the administration did not take any action over Tuesday's incident.
Locals said that when they went to file a case with Hathazari Police Station over Tuesday's incident, the case was not filed. No action has been taken against the students of the university involved, so they blocked the road in protest, they alleged.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bakhtiar Uddin, a local and also the president of Ward No. 2 Awami League of Fatehpur Union, was hit by a motorcycle of a university student at Gate No. 2 of the university.
An altercation ensued between Bakhtiar and the student. Bakhtiar also had an altercation with a BCL activist of the university who was present on the spot. At that time, there was a clash between Bakhtiar and BCL activists. Three people were injured.
It has been alleged that the students were beaten up in the wake of the incident.
Additional police have been deployed at Gate No. 2 of the university, said Rokon Uddin, Assistant Proctor of CU.
7 colleagues landed in jail over death of journo in Barguna
A Barguna court on Thursday sent seven members of Barguna Press Club to jail upon surrender in a case filed over the death of another journalist following an attack on Barguna Press Club on February 19.
Barguna Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Harun-Or-Rashid passed the order after rejecting a prayer for bail submitted by the defendants.
Those who landed in jail are Sohel Hafiz, Ariful Islam Murad, Md. Kashem Hawlader, Saiful Islam Miraz, Oliullah Imran, Sohag Hawlader and Sagir Hossain Titu.
Though a total of eight accused surrendered before the court with the bail prayer, the court only granted bail to Press Club General Secretary Jafar Hossain Hawlader, who had been in India during the attack.
Press Club’s seven members including its acting President Sohel Hafiz, members Ferdous Khan Emon and Saiful Islam Miraj were injured during the attack allegedly by deceased journo and also local Union Parishad member Masud Talukdar, his cohort Mushfiq Arif and others.
On February 29, the press club authorities filed a case naming 17 individuals and 50 unidentified individuals with the concerned police station.
In the case, the press club claimed so-called journalists Masud, Arif and their cohorts attacked the press club when most of its members had been in India on a tour.
Though journalist Masud had been hospitalised at Barishal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital since the attack, he breathed his last while undergoing treatment on March 2.
On March 2, Masud’s wife Sajeda Saju filed a murder case accusing 12 journalists and another man in this connection.
Masud was the prime accused in the press club attack case.
JCD, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Chhatra Federation protest ‘BCL attack’ on DU law dept students
At least three student organisations have protested the "Chhatra League attack" on a group of students in front of Bangabandhu Tower on Dhaka University campus.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad and Bangladesh Chhatra Federation issued official protest notifications late last night against "BCL’s attack" earlier yesterday, calling it "heinous".
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JCD’s notification -- signed by its DU unit president Gonsesh Chandra Ray Sahos and general secretary Nahiduzzaman Sipon -- reads, “Awami League’s student wing BCL thinks that everyone must follow the ideals of BCL and no one can oppose their ideology. That’s why they want to eradicate other ideologies by oppressing them. Such behaviour is nothing but a sign of fascism. We are protesting this heinous attack on students.”
Central President of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Bin Yamin Molla, and General Secretary, Ariful Islam Adeeb, also condemned the attack and issued a notification on behalf of the organisation.
“Chhatra League has created a reign of terror in the last 15 years. The latest of which is today's (yesterday) attack on a discussion about Ramadan at DU,” the notification reads.
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Demanding immediate identification of the attackers and legal action against the culprits, they called upon all students across the country to stand against the "violent politics" of Chhatra League and strongly condemn such attacks.
Following the attack, students of DU's Law Department staged an immediate protest rally at the base of Raju Bhashkorjo at 5:20 pm on Wednesday as all the attacked students are from the Law department’s 48 batch.
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