An international conference on the "Role of Science and Technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution" will be held at Rajshahi University from October 5-6, The conference will be organised by the university's Faculty of Science, it informed through a press release on Thursday. Sumon, Faraque elected as ERAB president, general secretary State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam will attend the opening ceremony as the chief guest. Rajshahi University pro-vice-chancellor Prof Sultan-ul-Islam and Prof Humayun Kabir will be present as special guests and Vice-Chancellor Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar will preside over the event. According to the press release, researchers from different universities in Bangladesh will present their work at the conference. Researchers from different parts of the world will also attend the conference. Community Digital Storytelling workshop held at Islamic University Key figures from Finland, Japan, India, Australia, China, and Nepal will serve as international advisory members. Apart from the science faculty, renowned people from various institutions in the country will play a role as members of the organising committee. There will be three keynote speakers in the event. They are Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University of India, Dr Gurmeet Singh; Managing Director of Bangladesh Data Soft Systems Limited, Mahbub Zaman; and CEO of Wenrich International, Japan, Uchy Harley Ichihasi, said the release. 10 students receive Sitara Parveen Award for academic excellence in DU’s journalism discipline This international conference will play an essential role in improving the image of the university and the country. Already, 370 researchers have submitted their research. This number will increase. Registration can be done until September 30. Tk 3,000 for professionals and Tk 1,500 for students have been fixed for the registration, it added.

Rajshahi University students today blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway to protest the “attack on them by locals and police” last night. Members of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) were deployed on the highway to control the situation, UNB’s RU correspondent said. Earlier today, students demonstrated in front of the administration building of the university and locked the building to protest last night’s clash involving locals of Binodpur and the students of Rajshahi University. At least 200 students were injured during the clash. Read more: Over 200 students injured as RU students clash with locals over bus seat The protesting students shouted slogans with their six-point demand, calling for justice. Their demands are: justice for the attack on RU students by locals and police, stopping the entry of outsiders in the university and ensuring safety of the students, ensuring on-campus accommodation for all students, ensuring proper treatment of the injured students, taking necessary measures within 24 hours of the incident, and ensuring student representation in forming university policies. According to the university sources, the students staged a sit-in protest in front of the Senate Building after holding a protest march on the campus to talk with the authorities. Later, they blocked the Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Golam Shabbir Sattar, the Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Md. Sultan-Ul-Islam, and Prof. M. Humayun Kabir for two hours in front of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Senate building. Read More: RU student stabbed on campus, 3 held VC Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar urged the students to stop the demonstration. However, the agitating students rejected his request and asked him to solve the issue. Amanullah Khan, a student of Population Science and Human Resource Development department of the university, said, “Police were largely inactive in the incident, rather they threw tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets at us. Taking advantage of their inaction, local thugs attacked us. The agitation will continue if our demands are not met.” At that time, he demanded the resignation of the university’s proctorial body and student advisor.  

Authorities at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) on Thursday formed a five-member panel to probe the death of a Rajshahi University (RU) student in the wake of allegations of lapse on part of doctors. On Wednesday night, Shahriar, the fourth-year student of the university's marketing department, died after allegedly falling off the roof of Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall. Brig General Shamim Yeazdani, director of RMCH, said the probe body, headed by Prof Noushad Ali, will investigate the death of Shahriar and "whether there was any lapse or dereliction of duty on part of doctors". The other members of the committee are the university proctor, the student advisor and two additional police commissioners of Rajshahi. The probe body has been asked to submit its report within three working days. After Shahriar fell off the roof of Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall of the university on Wednesday night, some students took him to RMCH where he was declared dead on arrival. Also read: Attack on interns: Osmani Medical College students suspend strike A student, named Jahangir, who was at the scene, however, told UNB that Shahriar was taken to the hospital around 8.30pm. "But he was not given treatment till 9.30pm. There was no doctor at the emergency department. Only an intern was there." Meanwhile, Shahriar's classmates vandalised the hospital as the doctors did not come on time. That led to a scuffle between the students and the medical interns. Later, the interns embarked on an indefinite strike, protesting the attack on them by some students of RU. On the other hand, the RU students thronged the area and demanded punishment against the attackers. Both sides dispersed subsequently.  

A student of  Rajshahi University  has been assaulted allegedly by some activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Madar Bux Hall as he asked them not to smoke in the television room. The victim is Shahabuddin Ahmed, a master’s student of Bangla department, who works for online news portal www.bdmorning.com and is also a member of Rajshahi University Journalist Association (RUJA). Also read: Tension mounts as BCL, JCD clash at DU Witnesses said RU BCL Madar Bux Hall unit vice president Giasuddin Kajol along with two of his fellow activists beat up Shahabuddin as objected to his smoking in the television room while watching an IPL match on Sunday night. “While watching the cricket match, Giasuddin Kajol, a fourth-year student of History department, started smoking cigarettes, making him and the others feel uncomfortable,” alleged Shahabuddin. Later, Shahabuddin was taken to the university medical centre for primary treatment. Professor Ashabul Haque, proctor of the university said, “We will take necessary steps against the accused after an investigation.” Meanwhile, RU-based journalists staged a sit-in at night in front of the vice-chancellor's residence demanding immediate action against the BCL men and the removal of the Madar Bux Hall provost. Later, the journalists withdrew their sit-in programme at around 2 am after the pro-vice-chancellor Professor Sultan-Ul-Islam assured them of meeting their demands by Monday. Also read:DU student assaulted ‘by BCL man’ for not offering salam Nuruzzaman Khan, president of Rajshahi University Journalist Association, alleged that he along with his fellow journalists contacted the hall provost several times over phone, but he did not respond to their call. “Instead of coming to the hall and taking necessary steps to solve the problem, the hall provost made the journalists wait in front of the hall gates for three hours, and later refused to come down”, Nuruzzaman added.

Two student leaders of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at Rajshahi University were injured as the men of Bangladesh Chhatra League of that university allegedly attacked them. The incident took place on Monday afternoon at the Chhatra Dal's party tent adjacent to the 'Buddhijibi Chattar' of the university. Among them, Zakir Rezwan, a member of the convening committee of Chhatra Dal and MA Taher Rahman, joint convener, were injured and being treated at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. According to eyewitness sources, the leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal were sitting in their own party tent. Suddenly, Kabiruzzaman Ruhul, president of BCL at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Sakhawat Hossain Shakil, vice-president of BCL at Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall, along with some 10 or 12 BCL men attacked them. At that time the leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal could not resist and fled quickly. READ: BCL activists clash with villagers near CU campus In this regard, the convener of the university branch Chhatra Dal Sultan Ahmed Rahi said, "When the members of our convening committee entered the campus for some academic works, some of the leaders and activists of BCL attacked our men and left two seriously injured." "Chhatra League is a terrorist organization. We demand a ban on this organization," Rahi added. Kabiruzzaman Ruhul, president of BCL at  Bangabandhu hall of the university said to UNB, "We heard Chhatra Dal men planning to make the campus unstable and we got them out of the campus." Shakhawat Hossain Shakil, vice-president of BCL at Shaheed Suhrawardy hall told UNB that they attacked them for trying to cause chaos on the campus. It is our duty to resist any of the chaotic activities at the campus, that's why we get them out of the campus, Shakil added.

With Rajshahi University authorities deciding to keep the residential halls closed during the Eid vacation from April 27 to May 7, many students are in troubled waters. These students told UNB that the decision to keep the residential halls closed has left them in shock, given the fact that many of them belong to far-away places and just can't afford to travel to their homes for such a short vacation. Partho Sarothy, a student of RU’s theatre department, said the university authorities must not take such "drastic steps" during festivals like Eid. Read: Decision on PEC exams to be taken 3 months before schedule: State Minister “My final exams are slated for May 15. The halls are closed till May 8. It may not be possible for me to complete my revision within just seven days of returning to the hall," said Partho, who stays in Suhrawardy hall. Delwar Hossain, a master’s student of the applied chemistry and chemical engineering department, said, "I wanted to stay on the campus during the festival to prepare for this year's BCS examination. But the authorities have made my life miserable to some extent." Professor Sultan Ul Islam Tipu, pro-vice-chancellor of the university, said, “Earlier, we never received any complaints from the students about the closure of halls during the Eid vacation. Hope to take into account the demands of the students next year." Read: 471 teachers recommended for recruitment in govt-aided pvt schools Fortunately, some major public universities, including Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Begum Rokeya University, Sher E Bangla Agricultural University, and Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, will keep their dormitories open during the Eid vacation.  

Police have arrested three people in connection with the attack on a Rajshahi University student at a hostel in the Amzader More area of the city on Wednesday night. The arrestees have been identified as Nazmul, owner of NR Chhatrabash, and his two staff -- Loban and Shariful, said Anwar Hossain Tuhin, officer-in-charge of Motihar police station. The three were arrested during a drive on Thursday after a case was filed at the police station following a complaint from the victim Saffat Naeem Nafi’s friend Sharif, said the OC. Also read: RU student stabbed, students stage demo demanding arrest of attackers Saffat, a student of the physics department of the 2019-20 session, is currently being treated at Dhaka's National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) after being stabbed by miscreants. Ibrahim Hossain, a student of the same department and also a witness to the crime, said they went to NR hostel that night to resolve a problem among RU student Sharif and some admission seekers staying at the hostel. "At one stage, some people came to the hostel gate and suddenly attacked us. We managed to escape but Saffat was stabbed,” he added. The students of the physics department staged a sit-in protesting the attack in front of the university vice-chancellor’s residence on Thursday morning. They dispersed only after an assurance from the vice-chancellor. Also read: Gazipur college girl allegedly stabbed for saying no to marriage proposal RU proctor Professor Ashabul Haque said that he heard that some junior students in the mess had locked into an altercation with Sharif for not offering namaz. "Some people, including Nafi, went to resolve the issue. A meeting was also held at the hostel that night and the mess owner was also present there," he added.

A student of Rajshahi University (RU) was killed and another injured as a truck hit their motorcycle in front of a university dorm on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Himel, a fourth-year student of Graphics Design department, confirmed Pradip Kumar Pandey, public relation officer. The accident occurred in front of Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall inside the campus. READ: The contenders to be the next VC of Rajshahi University According to students the truck carrying construction materials hit the motorcycle from behind, leaving Himel dead on the spot. Another student, Romel, was critically injured. After the accident, agitated students vandalised and touched several vehicles including private cars and trucks in the area. READ: Rajshahi University BCL locks up VC The students later blocked Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway demanding justice.

Teachers of Rajshahi University on Tuesday staged a sit-in at ‘Shaheed Buddhijibi Chattar’ on the campus  protesting ‘ police action on Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) students and expressing solidarity with the ongoing students’ movement. The teachers urged the government to accept the demands of the SUST students. Read:Day 7 of hunger strike: Medical support for protesting SUST students withdrawn Addressing the protest programme, Abdullah Al Mamun, Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism department said, “Police attack on students is noting new. The students of this university were also attacked on the previous days. The peaceful movement in 2014 was attacked. In 2003, Rokeya Hall students were attacked during peaceful protest. The attack incidents are still happening. Why did it happen at SUST? Just because they spoke against dictetorship!” Kazi Mamun Haider, assistant professor in the same department, said, I have seen the students’ movement for the last 10-20 years. In SUST, they wanted to compromise with the administration. The students have been on hunger strike for more than 140 hours but the government is not paying attention to them. We have started the movement supporting the SUST students and our program will continue. Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib of Physics department, Professor Sauvik Reza of Bangla department and Professor Syed. Ali Reza of Management Studies department were present at the demonstration. Read:SUST protest: Proctor-led team fails to reach food, medicines to embattled VC Abdul Majid Ontor, convener of RUCSU Andalan Manch, Shakila Khatun, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union of RU unit, Mohabbat Hossain Milon, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Federation of RU and leaders and activists of other left-leaning student organizations and students of different departments took part in the sit-in. Earlier, Dr. Farid Khan, a Professor of Economics department, staged a ‘silent protest’ on Sunday from 11.00 am to 01.00 pm in front of the administrative building of the university demanding the resignation of SUST Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin.

In-person classes have been suspended at Rajshahi University till February 6, in light of the latest surge in Covid-19 cases across the country. The residential halls of the university will  however remain open, so that physical attendance in classes can be resumed as soon as possible, once it is deemed safe again. Read: Rajshahi University dormitories reopen after 18 months The decision came from an emergency meeting held at the administration building of the university Friday evening, following a Cabinet Division order in the wake of an alarming surge in Covid cases in the country, said Prof Pradip Kumar Pandey, administrator of the university's Public Relations Office. All offices of the university will remain open on a limited scale during the period from 9am to 2pm maintaining hygiene rules. All emergency services -- electricity, water, gas, internet, healthcare -- on the campus will also remain uninterrupted, according to a statement from Prof Pandey. At the same time, it has been left up to each individual department to decide whether to hold in-person examinations maintaining hygiene protocols. Read:KU suspends in-person classes and decides to go online teaching RU authorities meanwhile advised the students to stay on in the campus, but in their respective dormitories adhering to all Covid-safety protocols and avoiding all public gatherings. The authorities also urged all concerned not to arrange meetings or seminars on the university campus. The students on Friday afternoon staged a demonstration and demanded to keep the campus and dormitories open.