Dhaka University authorities have suspended a student, also an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League, allegedly for harassing a female student on Tuesday in front of Raju sculptor memorial on the university campus. The suspended student is Najmul Alam, a residential student of Masterda Surja Sen Hall and postgraduate student of Institute of Social Welfare and Research of Dhaka University. He is also an activist of Master Da Surja Sen hall Chhatra League.  "Najmul has been suspended for his misbehaviour with a student of a private university on the night of November 1," said a DU press release. He has been asked to respond within next seven days explaining why he should not be expelled from university. Read more: DU student allegedly harasses Brac University student on campus The student allegedly slapped and harassed a girl, who is a law student of Brac University, on the campus during the early hours on Tuesday. But the DU student contradicted and accused the girl of assaulting him. Najmul said the girl was filming floating people who were asleep on footpath. He said that he stopped along with a friend as he was returning on a bike to the university dormitory when he saw the girl and her friends. He said he asked why the girl and her friends were filming the floating people without their permission. An altercation broke out, prompting the girl to slap Najmul, he said. Najmul also retaliated and slapped the girl back. In a video posted online it was seen that the girl using abusive words and slapping the boy. According to an audio recorded by a witness some details have come out. "After my birthday celebration, I was standing in front of the sculpture with my friends and taking pictures. At that time two boys stopped their bike and started questioning us using bad words against me.  They teased me and slapped me when I protested," the girl was heard in the audio. Najmul told UNB that the girl also used abusive words when he questioned their presence on the campus during early hours on Tuesday. Read more: Female student complains of harassment at DU dorm He said they were filming the people who were asleep on the footpaths and attires of the floating people were not in order.  "When I asked why the girl was taking pictures of the people without their consent, she said her father has the ability to buy the entire DU campus multiple times," he added. "When I took my mobile phone to record her abusive words, she again insulted me,” he said. "At one point she slapped me, and I slapped her in return,” he said. The girl filed a complaint with the Proctor’s office on Tuesday.    

Many reputed private universities of the country are still operating under temporary arrangement, defying University Grants Commission’s repeated warnings to shift to permanent campuses.   UGC authorities said the period of temporary permit granted to them will end on December 31 this year and then it can suspend new enrolment at these universities and take legal actions against them. Fresh student enrolment and all other activities of those private universities will be suspended if they fail to move to their permanent campuses within December 31, UGC member Professor Dr Biswajit Chanda said. The commission gave the deadline as 12 years have passed after granting temporary permits to 23 private universities and most of them failed to take any significant steps to shift to their campuses or build the infrastructures necessary for it, he said. Also read: UGC set to formulate policy for new public universities The private universities are: Brac University, University of Liberal Arts (ULAB), Daffodil International University, Stamford University, State University of Bangladesh, The People's University of Bangladesh, Dhaka International University, Manarat International University, Bangladesh University, University of Development Alternative (UODA), Southeast University, Northern University Bangladesh, Green University of Bangladesh, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, The Millennium University, Presidency University, University of South Asia, Uttara University, Victoria University of Bangladesh, Prime Asia University, Royal University of Dhaka, Asha University of Bangladesh and City University. Some of these universities moved partially but most have been operating from outer campuses for years, saying that construction work is yet to be completed, according to UGC. When UGC contacted them, some of the private university authorities said they are going to seek extension while some said they are trying to follow the deadline. According to section 7(2) of Bangladesh Private University Act (2010), these private universities were granted temporary permit to operate which was valid for seven years. After that, the institutions can apply for renewal of the temporary permit if they fail to fulfil the conditions mentioned in section 9 within the period of the temporary permission. The government may renew the permission for a period not exceeding five years, subject to necessary enquiry. Earlier, the UGC sent letters to the universities which did not move to permanent campuses after the temporary permit expired. The commission later decided to set the time for the universities to respond till December 31. Prof Bishwajit said, “Of the 23 universities, many have claimed they are in the middle of moving and will have relocated by the deadline. We are assuming one or two universities will seek extension of time for five to six months for construction of infrastructure as they have started a discussion regarding this with the UGC.” But other than that, those who will fail completely to take any step regarding this, will not be allowed to admit more students in their education programmes in the coming year, he said. “No private university will be spared if they disobey UGC’s directives and compromise the quality of education,” the UGC member added. Also read: UGC warning private unis to maintain standards: Biswajit Chanda According to UGC, from January 1, 2023 these 23 universities will be considered illegal if they do not fulfil one of the conditions of temporary permit which is shifting to permanent campuses within the fixed period. Hence, the commission will take further steps against them under section 35 (7) of Bangladesh Private University Act, 2010. So far, the government has given permission to 108 private universities in the country. Of these, 99 are currently operational.

A 24-year-old student of a private university allegedly committed suicide in his rented accommodation in the Sonadanga area of Khulna city on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Promise Nager, a student of the journalism and mass communication department of Northern University and son of Jotirmoy Nager of Pirojpur district. Also read:25-year-old found dead at Khulna rehab centre Getting no response from Promise for a long time, other occupants of the house looked through the window of his room only to find him hanging from the ceiling fan around 6.30pm, said Nahid Hasan Mridha, officer-in-charge of Sonadanga Model Police Station. Later, they informed the landlord. Promise was rushed to Khulna Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Also read: Construction worker crushed under falling shaft of crane in Khulna "A probe is on," the OC said.

A private university student was killed and two of his friends were hurt as a truck hit their bike in Bogura's Fuldighi Friday. The deceased Bappy, 25, was a student of the American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) and from Fuldighi of Shajahanpur upazila, according to police. His friends Pial and Ovi are undergoing treatment at Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. The accident occurred on Dhaka- Bogura highway at 7:15pm as Bappy and his friends were heading to Bonani from Fuldighi on a motorcycle, Shajahanpur Police Station Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman said. Also Read: Two killed in Khulna road accidents "They were hit while trying to overtake a speeding truck, leaving all three critically injured. Bappy died on the spot," he added. "We seized the truck while its driver and helper managed to flee."

A Dhaka court on Sunday placed three private university students on five-day remand over seizure of psychedelic drug LSD from their residence.Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Baki Billah passed the order during a virtual hearing in the case filed at Dhanmondi Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act.The court also rejected the bail pleas. READ: LSD seized during probe into DU student's death On May 27, investigation officer of the case, Sub-Inspector of Detective Branch Md Salauddin Kader produced the accused before court and sought a seven-day remand for each of them.The court sent them to jail after a remand hearing on Sunday.The accused are Sadman Sakib Rupol, 25, Ashab Wadud Turjo, 22, and Adib Ashraf, 23.On May 26, police arrested them during a raid from a Dhaka apartment with 200 pieces of LSD. They used to sell them at Tk 3,000 per piece. READ: Baba Ram Dass, spiritual guru and LSD pioneer, dies at 88The ongoing probe into the death of Dhaka University student Hafizur led to the raid, said DB.Later, DB Inspector Mahbub Alam filed a case against them under the Narcotics Control Act.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday allowed final semester private university students to attend practical classes and examinations in person but maintained that viva-voce would be held virtually.

The Appellate Division on Sunday fined three private universities Tk 10 lakh each for enrolling over 50 law students ignoring directives of the University Grants Commission and the Bar Council.

The Foreign Ministry said the admission process of foreign students to study in Bangladeshi medical colleges is likely to be completed by January 31.