The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh on Sunday asked the private universities to conduct all educational activities at their permanent campuses within the stipulated timeframe. The private universities whose temporary certificate has already expired will have to shift to their permanent campuses, said UGC member Prof Mohammad Anwar Hossain. 7-member advisory committee formed to oversee DAP implementation He made this call while visiting the permanent campus land of Ishaka International University Bangladesh in Kishoreganj district on Saturday, said a press release here on Sunday. Prof Hossain provided necessary directions to the university authority to improve education, research, and the physical and mental development of students.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked four private universities not to admit new students for their failure to fulfill some of its conditions. Those universities are Prime Asia University, Stamford University, Bangladesh, Asha University and Victoria University, said a press release of UGC on Thursday. Besides, the UGC issued a public notice on the steps taken against 18 private universities as the tenure of their temporary certificates has expired and they have failed to transfer their activities to permanent campuses within the timeframe.    The four universities were asked to fully stop student enrollment for failure to shift activities to permanent campuses and not taking any visible initiative to build permanent campuses. Apart from this, new student enrollment at temporary campuses of State University and Manarat University will completely remain suspended but it will continue at its permanent campus. In the notice, Dhaka International University, Royal University, Southeast University, City University, The Millennium University and Bangladesh University were given time to  transfer their  activities to permanent campuses by March 31 this year. If the universities fail to comply with the UGC directives within the stipulated time, the student admission to the institutions will remain halted and temporary campuses of the universities will be declared illeal. Read more: Pvt universities’ permanent campuses: UGC to go tough as deadline ends on Dec 31 Brac University, University of Development Alternative, Green University, Uttara University, Progressive University and The People's University were asked to transfer their all activities by June 30 this year after noticing visible improvement in developing permanent campuses and their written commitments. The student enrollment at those universities will be halted from July 1 this year once they fail comply with the directive. Earlier on April 11 last year, the UGC issued notice asking to take measures regarding the expiry of temporary certificate and transfer to permanent campuses by December 31 last year. As per the ‘Private University Act-2010’, there is an obligation to transfer all kinds of activities to a permanent campus within 12 years of its establishment. Read more: UGC warning private unis to maintain standards: Biswajit Chanda

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (December 12, 2022) said that public universities in Bangladesh lagged behind in adapting to virtual or online class when the government tried to introduce it during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Let me share something regrettable. Our public universities were a bit slow in using the digital system in education during the pandemic period. They were far behind (compared to private universities),” she said. The Prime Minister said this while attending the inaugural programme of Digital Bangladesh Day 2022. ICT Division organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) with the theme ‘Advanced Technology Inclusive Development’. Read more: From ‘Digital Bangladesh’ to ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041, PM announces Sheikh Hasina said that during the pandemic, public universities expressed reluctance to go for online classes. “Private universities started that (online classes) quickly. But our public universities (did not), even Dhaka University (did not start promptly),” she said. She said that after repeated requests, public universities of the country introduced online classes. “That was the reality. When a system is beneficial to us, why should we not adopt that?” – she questioned. Read more: $230bn needed: PM seeks support from global partners to implement climate adaptation plan If there were no ‘Digital Bangladesh’, what would have happened during the Covid-19 pandemic, she wondered. “Everything would come to a standstill.” The Prime Minister also elaborated on her government’s ICT-friendly initiatives and Vision 2041 to establish Smart Bangladesh. She mentioned that successful implementation of Digital Bangladesh made it possible for the government to keep the economy, education and other activities running properly during the pandemic. Regarding the economic situation worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter-sanctions, Sheikh Hasina said that prices of essentials have increased globally. Read More: Huawei ICT Incubator announces top 6 startups from Bangladesh “Developed countries are facing a volatile situation. Even developed countries like Great Britain have declared recession. By the grace of Allah, we are still able to run our economic wheel,” she said.

Prof. Md. Ali Ashraf, a frontline Awami League MP from Cumilla-7, on Sunday said that corruption and money laundering continue despite the government’s vow to stop the vices. Also on Sunday, another senior ruling party MP Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir from Chandpur-1 castigated the budget proposals to impose taxes on the income of private universities and medical colleges. Read: New budget proposals inadequate in tackling poverty, say rights groups Both the legislators were speaking on the Supplementary Budget in the parliament. Ali Ashraf said, “Our heads go down with shame and hate due to some big thieves.” This is not for what the nation had fought the Liberation War, he said. “We took part in the country’s Liberation War not for love for our own lives… not with the hope of getting and enjoying something,” he said. “We had fought in response to the call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to free the people and to see smile on their faces,” he said. Read: New budget underestimated impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, says SANEM He said that although the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government unequivocally have vowed zero tolerance against corruption and those involved in money laundering, “I think adequate and proper steps should be taken in this regard.” The AL MP also suggested that the government should overhaul the tax administration to increase its efficiency, transparency, honesty and sincerity. “Otherwise, we will not be able to reach our desired destination.” Lawmaker Muhiuddin Khan criticized the government for imposing tax on the income of private universities and medical colleges in the budget for fiscal 2021-22. He said, such measures are not education friendly. Read:Budget fails to reflect people’s aspirations: BNP He mentioned that spreading of education through private entrepreneurship will be hindered due to imposing of such tax. Mohiuddin Khan also proposed that the government forms a bank commission and a tax commission for bringing reforms in these two sectors.  

University Grants Commission (UGC) has called on the private universities to step forward to update the syllabus of their ongoing academic programs.