United News of Bangladesh

The Dhaka University (DU) administration has announced restrictions on outsiders’ entry to the campus on the night of December 31 to ensure the safety and security of its students. According to a notice issued by the university's Public Relations Office on Monday, the restrictions will be in effect from 7 pm on December 31, 2024, to 5 am on January 1, 2025. First-ever ‘Ambassador’s Travel Grant’ awarded to Bangladeshi students  Entry points at Shahbagh, Doel Chattar, Burn Unit, Shibbari Crossing, Fuller Road, Palashi Mor, and Nilkhet will remain restricted during this period. Only DU students with valid ID cards, members of the university community, vehicles with DU stickers, and emergency service vehicles, including ambulances and those carrying doctors, patients, and journalists, will be allowed access. DU students protest over professor's Facebook post insulting Islam, July-August martyrs The notice also said no event, fireworks, sky lanterns, or explosive materials would be permitted in the university's open areas during this time.

The recent installation of barriers at the entrances of Dhaka University (DU) to restrict the entry of external vehicles for a certain time has drawn mixed reactions from different quarters. University students have largely welcomed the initiative as a positive move for campus security, while city dwellers, especially regular commuters through the area, have expressed frustration over the resulting inconvenience. In a notice published by the proctor's office on December 14, the university authorities restricted entry of all types of vehicles through all the entrances (Shahbag, Doyel Chattar, Burn Unit, Shibbari Crossing, Fuller Road, Palashi and Nilkhet) from 3pm to 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays and other government holidays. Besides, movement of external vehicles inside the campus was banned from 5pm to 10pm on general working days. Only vehicles with DU stickers and emergency vehicles, including ambulances, media, and government cars, were permitted inside the campus. 3-day non-fiction book fair begins at Dhaka University The restriction has led to traffic congestion at these entry points, said drivers of some vehicles. However, students and university officials said the situation is improving as people adapt to the new regulations. Sharifa Akter, a member of the Dhaka University Ranger Unit working at the Nilkhet entrance and a resident student of Bangladesh Kuwait Maitree Hall, said, "People are gradually accepting the change. Although there was severe traffic congestion at the entrance initially, it is now decreasing." Students said the barriers will help control the entry of outsiders into the campus and ensure students’ safety. First-ever ‘Ambassador’s Travel Grant’ awarded to Bangladeshi students  Due to the barriers, they can move around the campus without interruption and they no longer fear accidents when crossing the road, they said. "I welcome this decision of the administration. Although it causes some problems for pedestrians, we need a solution that ends inconveniences for both pedestrians and students," said Hafizul Islam, another DU student. Sohel, another student who resides at Jahurul Haque Hall, said, "Earlier, I had to ride a bicycle on the footpath from Jahurul Haque Hall to TSC due to the presence of outsider vehicles. But since the barriers were installed, now I can move freely." On the other hand, city dwellers, especially commuters who used to use the university's entrances, have complained of severe problems in their daily journeys due to the barriers. Bus, car, rickshaw, and auto-rickshaw drivers have stated that traffic movement has significantly slowed down due to the barriers, which have exacerbated the already challenging traffic situation in the area. A pedestrian travelling from New Market to Gulistan said, "Because of Dhaka University’s decision, I have to take a much longer route to reach my destination which wastes my time." Rickshawpuller Shariful Islam said, "We are facing some difficulty because we cannot use the internal roads of the university. There is traffic congestion at the entrances, and we have to take a longer route." JU student dies allegedly by suicide in residential hall DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said, "The restriction will be relaxed to some extent. Vehicles, except for rickshaws and motorcycles, will be allowed to enter. We will discuss the matter further." He, however, said on the 31st December, all types of vehicles will be prohibited from entering the campus. On December 14, security and surveillance boxes were installed at seven entrances of Dhaka University to enhance overall security on the campus.

Dhaka University (DU) on Thursday published the admission test results of the Cha unit under the fine arts faculty. DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman published the results from Abdul Motion Chowdhury virtual classroom in the presence of Fine Arts faculty dean Prof Nisar Hossain.  Read: 8.58% students pass DU 'Gha' unit entry test Of a total of 6,156 examinees, only 241 successful students can now apply for admission against a total of 130 seats. Faria Nowshin Ahmed Apon bagged the first position in the test, scoring 100.5 out of 120. Oishee Rani Mondol secured the second position in the test scoring 98.94, while Mohammad Forhad Ali came third with a score of 98.84. Successful students have time till July 30 to apply for their choice of subject.

Whenever humanity faced disaster and distress music played a significant role. History was made with benefit concerts like Concert for Bangladesh, Live Aid, Farm Aid and even the 24-hour Covid Concert. Bangladesh Musical Bands’ Association (BAMBA) is said to have started the practice of raising funds through concerts for the flood-affected in Bangladesh, decades back.

The country's most coveted Dhaka University (DU) observed its 102nd birth anniversary on Friday through day-long programmes. DU Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated the celebration programmes by cutting a 102-pound cake at the central field of the university campus around 10am.

Dhaka University (DU) and the DU Chhatra League celebrated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 102th birth anniversary in a different way this year -- by cutting a cake for the most pieces as the clock struck twelve.  DU vice chancellor Prof Dr Akhtaruzzaman and BCL president Al Nahiyan Khan Joy witnessed the cake-cutting ceremony at Jatir Janak Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman hall at 12am on Thursday. Read:What Was Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Childhood Like? Bangabandhu hall provost Prof Akram Hossen, BCL Bangabandhu hall Chhatra League president Mehedi Hasan Shanto and its general secretary Mahbubur Rahman were also present on the occasion. After the cake-cutting ceremony, the DU VC handed over awards to the winners of an essay-writing competition. The topic was "Above all parties: Universal Bangabandhu". Hasibul Hasan Hasib, a fourth-year student of the Bangla department, came first in the competition, while Nurul Huda from the same department and Nafis Sadik from the economics department secured the second and third positions, respectively. Thanking the hall administration for arranging such a programme, the DU VC said, "Bangabandhu is considered one of the greatest leaders in the world. Today, we are celebrating his 102th birth anniversary because we preserve his ideals in our hearts." Read: PM pays homage to Bangabandhu Bangabandhu was born in Tungipara  village of Gopalganj on this day in 1920. "Bangabandhu hall Chhatra League has lined up other activities like food distribution among the street children and supplication programme at the hall mosque after Asar prayer," the student wing of the ruling Awami League said in a release.

No university of Bangladesh – neither public nor private -- has found any place at the top level of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University ranking of 2022. The positions of Dhaka University (DU) and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) remained unchanged at 801-1000, a very abysmal show at the global stage. Read: Barishal University: 82, inc. 40 teachers, earn promotions Besides, Bangladesh’s two top private universities -- Brac University and North South University – have got their places at 1001-1200. QS does not assign specific positions for universities rated below 500. But the universities in India and Pakistan have greatly outclassed those in Bangladesh as eight Indian and three Pakistani universities found their positions in the top 500. Read: University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC Twenty-six Asian universities were named in the global top 100 in the latest ranking like the previous year. Two universities of Singapore – the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University – are there at the 11th and 12th spots respectively in the global ranking. Read:The contenders to be the next VC of Rajshahi University Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) earned the top spot for the 10th consecutive time. It was followed by the University of Oxford, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, and Harvard University, in the top five. QS evaluates 1,300 universities across the world according to six metrics: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per faculty, International Faculty Ratio, and International Student Ratio.

In the wake of the detection of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh, students of Dhaka University (DU) and Rajshahi University (RU) on Sunday demanded that all academic activities be suspended.

Students of Dhaka University (DU) on Monday invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to join the Saraswati Puja celebrations on the premises of Jagannath Hall of the university on January 30.

Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) has set up 'Bangabandhu Corner' at 18 dormitories of the university to mark the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.