The Ministry of Education has ordered an immediate stop to hill cutting during the implementation of the "Further Development of Comilla University" project. The directive also calls for replanting trees in the affected areaa and submitting a report on environmental compliance during the development work.   This instruction follows a letter issued on October 15 by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The letter highlighted that development activities in the Lalmai Hill area of Comilla Sadar South were carried out without the necessary approval from the Department of Environment.    The letter also warned that such actions under a government project set a harmful precedent for private or individual projects. It emphasized that hills, as invaluable natural resources, cannot be restored once destroyed. Lalmai Hill, in particular, holds national heritage and archaeological significance, which must be preserved. Dhaka calls for global collaboration to address threats to religious sites The directive, signed by Ahmed Shibli, Deputy Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, was issued on November 27 to ensure compliance with environmental laws.   The Ministry of Environment hopes all parties will respect the law and adopt eco-friendly practices in future development projects.  

Due to the ongoing severe heatwave, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has announced the closure of all government primary schools, child welfare trust schools, and learning centers under the education bureau until Thursday. Senior Information Officer of the ministry, Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin, signed the notification on Monday, emphasising that the decision was made to ensure the health and safety of children. Additionally, educational activities at all institutions below the secondary level and vocational educational institutions in Dhaka, Chuadanga, Jashore, Khulna, and Rajshahi districts were suspended for Monday. Guidelines issued for primary schools reopening tomorrow amid heatwave A separate notice from the Education Ministry, signed by MA Khayer, public relations officer, was issued on Sunday following consultations with the Health Ministry and the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. However, educational institutions equipped with air conditioning were allowed to remain open. Despite the ongoing heatwave, which began in the first week of April, schools and colleges had initially resumed classes on Sunday after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays and their subsequent extension due to the heat. Primary schools conducted classes on Monday since no directive had been issued by the concerned authorities until Sunday night. This reopening came even though there has been no significant relief from the heatwave, raising concerns among parents, particularly those with young children. Heat wave: Assembly at all govt primary schools suspended Originally, schools and colleges were set to reopen on April 21 after the Eid holidays, but the persistent extreme temperatures prompted authorities to extend the closure until April 27. The Ministry has advised parents and guardians to stay informed through official updates as the situation develops.

In a decisive move aimed at minimizing the anxiety levels among students, Bangladesh's Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel announced his decision to refrain from visiting Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination centers this year. The announcement, made through a press release by the Education Ministry on Monday (February 05, 2024), underscores the minister’s concern over the psychological impact such official visits have on students, including heightened stress and public inconvenience. Nowfel urges to refrain from unhealthy politics over opposing curriculum Minister Nowfel pointed out the inadvertent “harassment situation and mental agony” that his presence might cause, exacerbating the challenges students already face during this critical examination period. He also expressed his commitment to prioritizing the wellbeing of examinees over traditional inspection practices. Nowfel wants new unis to refrain from running undergraduate courses at start of journey The disruption caused by such visits, including delayed entry of students into examination centers, was also a key concern cited by the minister. He took the opportunity to remind the public and officials of the legal framework governing access to examination halls, emphasizing that “only the designated center inspector is allowed entry into the exam hall,” as per existing regulations. Nowfel to prioritise innovation, performance over ceremonial aspects

Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid, who is also chancellor of universities, has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take necessary measures for holding a single admission test for all public universities for the 2023-24 session. A media release signed by Md Mahmudul Alam, joint secretary of secondary and higher education department of the Education Ministry, conveyed the directive today. Read more: Single admission test for universities from next year: Dipu Moni The release also said the public universities that earlier held admission test in the cluster method for 2022-23 session were asked to complete the admission process.

The 6th convocation of Jahangirnagar University (JU) will be held on February 25, said the university authorities. The convocation will be held at 3:30 pm, said a notification signed by Shatarupa Talukder, senior assistant secretary of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education of the Education Ministry. The first convocation of Jahangirnagar University was held in 1997. The second convocation was held in 2001 and the fifth and last convocation of the university was held in 2015, it said.  

The Education Ministry has formed monitoring committees to prevent charging extra admission and readmission fees in different schools and colleges across the country. Four monitoring committee each led by a deputy secretary, on Wednesday visited a number of educational institutions to check whether the authorities concerned are taking admission fees, development fees and others for 2023 session following the admission policy of the ministry, said a media release of the Education Ministry signed by its public relations officer M Abul Khayer. Besides, 16 monitoring committees formed by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, eight divisional committees in Dhaka Metropolitan area, 55 district monitoring committees and upazila monitoring committees are also visiting educational institutions to check any violation of the government policy. Also read: New curriculum to be introduced in 2023: Education Minister Steps will be taken against those concerned if irregularities are found, it said.  

Prof Md Nurul Alam, pro-vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, has been appointed its VC, an education ministry notice said on Sunday. The notification has been signed by Deputy Secretary of the ministry Md Masum Ahmed. According to the notification, President Md Abdul Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, made the appointment as per the Jahangirnagar University Act. Also read:Prof. Samad appointed as DU Pro-VC for 2nd time The president can cancel the appointment at any time, said the notification Nurul Alam is also professor of the Department of Physics of the university. Earlier on March 1, he was appointed as the VC on an interim basis for the administrative needs of the University, in addition to his responsibilities as Pro-VC. The current VC Prof Dr Farzana Islam’s tenure expired on March 2.

Dr AFM Abdul Moyeen, Professor of Department of Management at Dhaka University, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Comilla University. In this regard, a notification from the Education Ministry signed by Deputy Secretary Md Mahmudul Alam was issued on Sunday. Read:SUST VC attacked and confined by protesting students According to the notification, President Md Abdul Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, made the appointment as per the Comilla University Act. Dr AFM Abdul Moyeen will perform his duty as VC for next four year. Prof Dr Md Abu Taher, registrar of Comilla University, said they have not yet received the notification. The current VC Prof Emran Kabir Chowdhury's tenure will end on January 31.

Khulna University for Science and Technology (Kuet) will reopen its dormitories from October 22 for 3rd year, final year and Masters students. Rest of students will be allowed to stay at dormitories from November 5. Read:DU dormitories to reopen on Oct 5 The decision was taken at the 81st (emergency) meeting of the Academic Council chaired by University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kazi Sazzad Hossain on Sunday afternoon after reviewing the instructions of the Education Ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC). According to the meeting, classes of the 3rd,  final year and Masters students will start on October 25 and classes of the 1st and 2nd year students will start on November 7. Read:University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC Students who have received the first jab of the Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to enter halls after showing the vaccine card.

UNICEF has "wholeheartedly" welcomed the decision by the government of Bangladesh to reopen schools. “Together with other development partners, we will continue to work closely with the government to keep schools open safely," said Tomoo Hozumi, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh on Sunday. Read: Schools, colleges to reopen on Sept 12: Dipu Moni Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said on Friday said  primary, secondary, and higher secondary educational institutions in the country will reopen on September 12. “The decision was taken in a joint meeting of the Education Ministry, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the National Technical Advisory Committee held on Thursday night,” she said at a function in Chandpur Sadar upazila. UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Mia Seppo joined the UNICEF in welcoming Bangladesh decision to safely reopen schools. "(It's) Important to give special consideration to the children who are the hardest to reach and who have the biggest challenges catching up on lost learning," she tweeted.