United News of Bangladesh

Train services on the Dhaka-Mymensingh route resumed on Sunday night after being halted for two hours due to a blockade by students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). The students blocked the railway line at Jabbarer Mor, adjacent to the university, around 8:00pm, in solidarity with the Dhaka University students who are staging a hunger strike demanding reforms in the Public Service Commission (PSC) and punishment for those involved in question leaks. The blockade continued for nearly two hours before the students announced a suspension of their protest at 9:55pm. Following the withdrawal, the Dhaka-bound Agnibina Express crossed Jabbarer Mor at 10:20pm, restoring rail communication between Dhaka and Mymensingh. Before ending the blockade, the protesters reiterated their stance, saying they would not accept any verbal assurances and vowed to continue their peaceful movement until their eight-point demands are officially accepted through a gazette notification. They said that they do not want to cause public suffering by blocking the railway and their peaceful movement will continue from tomorrow.

After 61 years under the Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University’s (BAU) Department of Physics has been transferred to the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology. Confirming the move, Prof. Dr. Md. Khairul Hassan Bhuiyan, Head of the Department, noted that globally, physics departments belong to engineering faculties. Since 1964, however, BAU's Physics Department remained under the Faculty of Agriculture due to administrative hurdles. The shift, effective January 26, 2025, was made possible by the current administration’s efforts. University sources say physics courses were once integral to the Faculty of Agriculture, but a 1969 ordinance change led to a decline in their importance. However, the courses remained compulsory for Agricultural Engineering students. In April 2002, BAU formed a high-powered committee to restructure its infrastructure, which provided five key recommendations. One of these-recommendation number three, suggested transferring the Department of Physics to the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology. While the other four recommendations were implemented, this particular one remained unaddressed. Bangladeshi universities urged to focus on power sector research The decision to transfer the department was finally made in March 2024 during the 180th meeting of the Faculty of Agriculture. Following this, Prof. Dr. Md. Zainul Abedin, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, submitted an application to the university registrar during the faculty’s 209th committee meeting, requesting approval for the transfer. Although the proposal was included in the academic council’s meeting agenda in May 2024, it was not formally presented due to procedural complexities. However, during the 210th meeting, the transfer was endorsed, and upon the vice-chancellor’s approval, the department was officially shifted to its new faculty after 61 years. Prof. Bhuiyan previously served as Head of the Department from June 2010 to August 2017 and resumed the role in August 2019, continuing to the present. Prof. Bhuiyan emphasized physics’s role in the Fifth Industrial Revolution, where AI, robotics, and big data are revolutionizing agriculture. He highlighted that physics-driven innovations enhance farm efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.

Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have placed a 6-point demand protesting the sexual harassment and molestation of a fellow student. The third-year students of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry brought out a procession from their faculty that ended at the administration building. At that time, they also marched surrounding the administrative building and boycotted the class and examination. BAU research team develops several high-yielding varieties of carrots They said that on February 10, the victim student was going to take a practical class at Shahjalal Animal Nutrition Field Laboratory of the university. While passing through the road adjacent to the residential area of the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA)  a 20-25-year-old autorickshaw driver touched her body from behind and tried to lift her into the vehicle. “When the victim screamed, the man fled with the CNG,” they added. Plants fair at BAU draws enthusiastic response Their demands are:  1. The CNG driver should be identified and brought to justice immediately.  2. The movement of outsiders should be controlled.  3. Every place in the university should be covered by CCTV and adequate lighting should be ensured at every corner of the campus. 4. Specific uniforms for Rickshaws and auto drivers’ with registration numbers should be ensured. 5. Ensure proper accountability of the security unit.  6. The number of security personnel should be increased. Let's Talk on 'Smart Agriculture and Innovation' held at BAU Proctor Professor Dr. Md. Azharul Islam said the number of the vehicle was collected through CCTV footage. The matter has been informed to all concerned security departments. A general diary (GD) was lodged at Kotwali Model Police Station in this regard, said Prof. Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, director of the University Security Council. “Efforts are on to trace the accused CNG driver,” he added.

The government's Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP) would train 300 field veterinarians from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and 300 from Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) to use ultrasonogram machines. A workshop on "Training on Use and Basics of Ultrasonogram Machine" was inaugurated at the conference room of the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on Monday. Nowfel to prioritise innovation, performance over ceremonial aspects The Department of Surgery and Obstetrics at BAU organised the workshop, funded by LDDP. BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Emdadul Haque Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the programme, presided over by Associate Professor Dr Momena Khatun. Head, Department of Surgery and Obstetrics. Professor of the Faculty of Veterinary, Dr Md Abdul Awal, was present as a special guest. Heads of different departments and teachers of the Veterinary Faculty were also present on the occasion. Prime Minister's Gold Medalist returns awards for education in disgust over corrupt teacher recruitment process at RU The workshop was coordinated by Dr Nasrin Sultana Juyena, professor, Department of Surgery and Obstetrics. She appreciated the initiative of the government to create smart agriculture and skilled veterinarians. Venice hosts congress of Bangladeshi students in northern Italy VC Emdadul hoped to reflect the results of the training at the field level as well as emphasise enhancing the skills of the veterinarians.

At a time when losses are forcing many farmers to turn to cash crops, a farmer has found hope in Chia cultivation in Manirampur upazila of Jashore – with a little help from his agriculturist brother.   Highly nutritious Chia seed shares similarities with sesame seed and the farming system is quite identical. It is mainly cultivated in Canada, Australia, Japan, America, Chili, Mexico, and New Zeeland, among other developed countries.   Hafizur Rahman, a local farmer, cultivated Chia on 50 decimals of land this season under the direct supervision of his elder brother agriculturalist Dr Md Mashiur Rahman, a professor at the Bangladesh Agricultural University.   Dr Rahman collected seed from Canada in 2016 and later led an experimental cultivation.   He told UNB that he became interested in Chia farming in Bangladesh after learning about its nutritional quality, and examined local soil and climate to see if it is suitable for Chia cultivation.   “After months of research, I started experimental Chia cultivation and succeeded in 2017,” he said, adding that he encouraged his brother to start cultivating Chia.   Chia plants look like sesame but its nutritional quality is higher than many crops and it is very expensive.   Hafizur said Chia seed can be sown in the Bengali month of Karthik and Agrahayan. “I’ll harvest the crop within a few days,” he said.   Only 200 grams of seed are enough for each Bigha, he said, adding that Chia plant requires one or two irrigations and requires less insecticide due to less pest attack rate.   Farmers should use a little amount of Urea, TSP and MOP fertilisers 15-20 days before sowing Chia seed in the field, he added.   Each kilogram of Chia seed costs about Tk 2,700 in Dhaka’s market.   It turns into jelly when the seeds are put in water. This jelly can be eaten with bread, pudding, cake and loaf.   Hirok Kumar Sarkar, the Upazila Agriculture Officer, said they will encourage local farmers to cultivate Chia in the next season.