Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan, met with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse, Jamuna, on Tuesday. During the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor briefed the Chief Adviser on various university matters, including the current status of academic and research activities, ongoing development projects, progress in resolving faculty-student conflicts, and recent measures taken for student welfare. Read: Dhaka University students leverage Facebook, YouTube for learning: Research Dr. Yunus expressed satisfaction with the university’s progress in education and research and assured full support for further advancements in these areas. This meeting is part of a regular update on the university’s overall developments shared with the Chief Adviser.

Dhaka University teachers and staff brought out a procession on the campus on Sunday, marking the month of Victory. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan released doves and balloons to mark the occasion.  The procession, led by the Vice-Chancellor, started from the Oporajeyo Bangla monument, proceeded through TSC (Teacher-Student Center), and concluded at the Smriti Chironton Square. University's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Syama Haque Bidisha, Senate and Syndicate members, Registrar, Deans of various faculties, hall provosts, Proctor, Directors of various institutes, Department Chairs, teachers from different halls, students, alumni, and staff also joined.  Month of Victory begins In a brief speech, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War. He said this year’s Victory Day celebration holds significant importance in the context of the recent student-led mass uprising. Recalling the victims of the July movement he said that the people of Bangladesh, especially the students contributed greatly to the formation of a new Bangladesh. He called upon the university’s faculty, students, and alumni to work together in unity to overcome all challenges and contribute to the country’s progress. The procession concluded with the performance of the national anthem and patriotic songs under the supervision of the Dhaka University Music Department at the Smriti Chironton Square.  

Dhaka University (DU) has launched a shuttle bus service on a three-month trial basis to ease student commute on campus. DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan officially inaugurated the shuttle bus service at a ceremony held on the university campus on Thursday. The service aims to alleviate transportation challenges for students moving between various departments, residential halls, and other facilities. Professor Dr. Niaz said that although the shuttle bus service has a limited capacity, it has been introduced to facilitate students' internal movement on campus. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in the initiative. Emphasizing the importance of proper supervision, maintenance, and control of the service, he urged that all stakeholders, including students, must play their part in ensuring its success. He also mentioned that if the pilot project proves successful in improving campus transportation, it could be expanded in the future.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday laid emphasis on creating confidence to achieve a greater goal as he joined the centennial celebration of the Bose-Einstein Statistics in the city. "We must create confidence in the minds of our youths that we are the world. Today, we are celebrating the centenary of that aspiration," he said. Prof Yunus spoke at the inaugural ceremony of the 'Centennial Celebration of the Bose-Einstein Statistics: A legacy of Dhaka’ in the city. The Dhaka University Physics Department and Bose Center for Advanced Study and Research in Natural Sciences, DU are jointly organising the two-day celebration. Education Adviser Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan, and former professor at SNBNCBS, Kolkata, Partha Ghose, also spoke at the programme. The Chief Adviser said the way the environment for Bose's invention was developed in 1924 it will continue to develop in the same way today. "There is no alternative to it. I invite everyone in the world of science to do so." Prof Yunus said their interim government, the outcome of the revolution, is ready to make all the necessary reforms and make every effort to create a suitable environment for it. He said demands and suggestions must come from everyone dedicated to this work. "We can do this if we have confidence in ourselves - as Base had this confidence, he could write to Einstein despite being a complete stranger," Prof Yunus said. Read: Dr Yunus calls for unity to ensure safe festival celebrations for all religions "We must always create confidence in our minds so that we do not have to go to the world, but the world comes to us," he mentioned. Prof Yunus said that the quiet little town and green Ramna cannot be brought back, but they can definitely bring back that glorious Dhaka University. "When I was a student at Dhaka University in the late 1950s, Bose's Dhaka was more similar to Dhaka then than to Dhaka today. So I can imagine the atmosphere of Dhaka and Dhaka University," he said. Prof Yunus said they want to emphasise this on the centenary of the Bose-Einstein theory that today, through the revolution, the student-teacher community has regained their freedom of thought and the practice of free intellect. "To this must now be added the ability to contribute to the world of science. That is achieved through daily study and research while keeping aspirations high," he said.

The admission test for undergraduate programmes of Dhaka University (DU) for 2024-25 academic session will begin on January 3. The admission tests will begin with the exam of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) on January 3. The entry test of Fine Arts faculty has been scheduled to be held the next day on January 4. Admission exam of Arts, Law and Social Science unit is scheduled to be held on January 25, the exam of Science unit will be held on February 1 and the entry test for business unit will be held on February 8. Hijab on Raju Sculpture female figure: DU forms probe committee This decision was taken on Monday afternoon in a meeting of the general admission committee. Deans of faculties confirmed the information too. According to the notice, the candidates will be able to apply for the exam from 4th November and it will continue till 25 November. Students have to pay an amount of total Tk 1050 against every application.

A four-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the incident in which a hijab was placed on the female figure of the Raju sculpture at Dhaka University. The incident occurred late Sunday night when unidentified individuals draped a hijab over one of the female figures of the iconic Raju sculpture. The act has raised concerns over campus security and the university's response to such actions. Those responsible for the act have not yet been identified. DU-affiliated college students block Nilkhet, Newmarket intersections Upon being informed, University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmad dispatched two assistant proctors—Muhammad Rafiqul Islam and Md. Rabiul Islam—to inspect the site around 1 pm on Monday. Assistant Proctor Muhammad Rafiqul Islam said, "We visited the Raju sculpture and saw that the hijab had already been removed. As of now, we do not know who is responsible for this incident." He assured that the authorities are investigating the matter and will review CCTV footage from the area. "Those involved will be identified through a thorough examination of the CCTV footage," he added. Additionally, he confirmed that a four-member committee has been set up to investigate the incident in detail. "The footage will be sent to relevant agencies for further analysis," he noted.

A group of students from seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University blocked the Nilkhet and Newmarket intersections in the capital today, demanding the cessation of their affiliation with Dhaka University and autonomy of the colleges. Beginning at 10 am, students from the seven colleges gathered at Dhaka College and staged a protest on the campus, chanting slogans in support of their demand for autonomy. Students of 7 DU-affiliated colleges stage protest blocking Nilkhet Around 11 am, they exited the campus and blocked the Science Laboratory and Nilkhet crossings. During the demonstration, the protesting students expressed their frustrations, saying they have faced numerous problems due to their affiliation with Dhaka University. They specifically cited discrimination in the exam evaluation system. The students declared they would not leave the road until their demands were met and would not participate in any examinations or attend classes. Mohammad Tahsin, a student of Dhaka College, told UNB that students from the DU-affiliated colleges have faced long-standing discrimination. "We do not want to be placed under the National University. We seek an independent platform free from this disparity, and it could take the form of a new university." He continued, "We have a severe shortage of classroom space and other facilities, and our teachers face limitations. They instruct us according to their capacity, which does not match our needs. However, Dhaka University’s teachers evaluate our papers, creating an imbalance that affects our results. Furthermore, the bureaucratic issues at the DU register building exacerbate our struggles. We want to be rid of these problems." "We will end the blockade if the authorities promise to form a committee or commission to establish the seven colleges as an independent entity," he added. Rahatul Islam, a student from Kabi Nazrul Islam Government College, said that they have approached various authorities over the years, but no one has paid attention to their demands. As a result, they felt they had no option but to stage this protest. "We understand that many people and passersby are suffering due to our actions on the roads, but we are not responsible for this. The education adviser and the DU vice-chancellor are accountable for this public suffering," he asserted. It is worth noting that the blockade has caused severe traffic congestion in the New Market and Nilkhet areas.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday visited Dhaka University campus to see the graffiti drawn by young revolutionaries during the student-led mass uprising in July and August. Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, among others, were present during the visit. In previous occasions, Prof Yunus spoke about the historic significance of the graffiti, which depicted emotions, hope, and aspirations of the students and youth who participated in the protests. Prof Yunus seeks increased Turkish investment as Dhaka ready for business Dhaka became the Graffiti capital after young painters turned its walls into powerful canvases. They wrote slogans and poetry to deliver powerful messages. The messages reflect the spirit of the revolution and the aspirations for a discrimination-free Bangladesh.

Dhaka University authorities announced that it will hold classes virtually due to the prevailing heat wave condition. DU public relations office issued a press release in this regard on Sunday (April 21, 2024). Schools, colleges to remain closed till Apr 27 due to heat wave "To avoid health risks due to the intense heat wave prevailing across the country, all classes of Dhaka University will be held online until further order and exams will continue as usual," the notice reads. Heatwave: National University-affiliated colleges to remain shut until further notice To lower the health risks, the university authorities also suggested students to wear white or light colour cotton clothes,  to stay under shadows, use cap or umbrellas, carry water and saline while going out and not to drink tea or coffee. 

Students have raised allegations of academic misconduct against Professor Naadir Junaid of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University. Postgraduate students at the department alleged that Professor Naadir intentionally gave them unusually low grades in a course, acting out of personal vendetta. In a complaint letter submitted to university’s Vice Chancellor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal on Wednesday, the students said Prof. Naadir ‘threatened’ them earlier several times as they didn’t show any interest to take his optional course in the last semester of their masters. Students accuse DU prof of academic misdemeanour In the result of the batch’s comprehensive course, which includes 50 marks written and 50 marks viva, 35 out of 54 students received below CGPA 3.00.  In the three other courses of the semesters, most of these 35 students secured CGPA ranging from 3.50 to 3.75, which is far more than what they received on the comprehensive course. UGC forms committee over rape on JU campus Students raised a three-point demand including taking the viva voce again by forming a non-partial and independent viva board and revising the published result, ensuring exemplary punishment to the professor for his acts as well as making university’s teacher evaluation program functional immediately. Dr. Naadir Junaid was the coordinator and examiner of the second semester course of their postgraduate program. He was also the chairman of the examination committee of the Masters. The students, in the complaint letter, accused the professor of leaking result information to create a fearful situation among the students before officially publishing the result, whereas it is against the rules of the university to comment on the results before the results are published. He leaked academic results of the said batch to a junior batch at least four days before, the students alleged. The students of the 12th batch also alleged Professor Naadir Junaid of threatening and harassing them during their viva examinations, the complaint letter said. U.S. Embassy hosts first ever TechCamp in Bangladesh to empower young journalists   They claim that he asked them irrelevant and inappropriate questions which affected their performance and caused them distress.  Mashfiq Mizan, a student of 12th batch, alleged that Prof. Naadir Juanid hushed him for not addressing him as ‘sir’ during the viva, which made his impression bad in front of other members of the viva board.  “Later he burdened me with so many questions that other members of the committee requested to stop asking questions but he did not stop,” Mashfiq said. Shafat Rahman, a student of MCJ 12th batch, posted on his Facebook handle, also alleged the professor asked him inappropriate questions during the viva.  Monitoring students' personal social media activities  “The professor is very judgmental of students in the classroom following their Facebook activities and evaluating exam papers on the same basis of FB activities,” the allegation letter says.  Sifat Tasnim, a student of 12th batch shared her experience, saying, “During the Viva Board session, he questioned me about my Facebook activities. I often post light-hearted content, but he made me feel embarrassed about it. I ended up in tears at the viva.” Contacted, Professor Nadir said multiple teachers are involved with the evaluation process: “How can it be only my fault?” Don’t want to cause them stress: Education Minister says won’t visit SSC exam centers Regarding the viva, he said, “There were four members in the board including me. In reality, I gave more marks than others. The final count came down after counting the average mark.”  He also denied allegations of leaking academic results beforehand to junior batches. Contacted, DU pro vice chancellor(education) Prof. Sitesh Chandra Bachar, said, “We will call the concerned people who were associated with this, the teacher against whom the complaint is made and the exam committee. We will review the matter and report to the Vice Chancellor and further action will be taken as per rules. We will also see how reasonable the numbers they got are.” Following the incidents, several former students of the department have brought a host of other allegations against the said professor on social media. They demanded justice and accountability from the university administration.