Police dispersed protesters when they attempted to march towards Subidbazar area of Sylhet city on Wednesday (July 31, 2024) as part of ‘March for Justice’ programme announced by Anti-discrimination Student Movement to press home their 9-point demand. The protesters started taking position at the main gate of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) from 11 am. Police who had taken position there before their arrival obstructed them, said witnesses. Later, more students joined and started chanting slogans. At around 12:30 pm, hundreds of students marched to the city's court point. Read more: Tense situation as protesters hold ‘March for Justice’ demonstration in Chattogram Court premises A clash broke when the protesters tried to move towards Subidbazar and police restored to tear gas shells and sound grenade to disperse them, reports our correspondent from the spot.

A student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) was found dead at Salutikor in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet district early Wednesday. National University suspends all exams on Oct 29 The deceased was identified as Rakibul Hasan Sifat, a student of the Chemistry Department of the university. Md Khalique, sub-inspector of Gowainghat Police Station, said being informed by local people police recovered the body of Sifat from the area around 4 am. Govt to set up ‘Dr. M.A Wazed Miah Agriculture University’ in Natore The body bore injury marks on his head. Police suspected that Sifat might have been killed in an accident while going to his destination by a motorbike. ULAB wins at 9th Inter-University Student Conference and Competition Prof. Dr Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, said police sent the body of Sifat to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital.

A fire that broke out in a building on Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) campus early today is under control. No causality or injury has been reported. The fire broke out in room 127 of Building A on the campus around 1:45 am where a research laboratory was located. The security guard of the university rushed to the spot and put the blaze under control. Also read: Fire breaks out at DMCH nurse's ward On information, a firefighting unit went to the spot and extinguished the fire around 2:30 am. Proctor Prof Dr Md Quamruzzaman said primarily it is suspected that the fire might have originated from an electric short circuit.    

A student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) was stabbed to death by a mugger on the campus on Monday evening. The deceased is Bulbul Ahmed, a third year student of the Public Administration Department. Eyewitnesses said Bulbul along with his friends went to the New Zealand area, adjacent to the Shaheed Minar on the campus in the afternoon. At one stage, his friends rescued him, as he sustained stab injuries by a mugger. Bulbul was first rushed to the university medical centre and later shifted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital where on duty doctor Kaniz Fatema declared him dead around 7:45pm. Read: SUST closed till June 25 amid flooding SUST proctor Israt Ibne Ismail said police force has been sent to the spot to detain the mugger. Hearing the news, SUST vice-chancellor, student’s welfare advisor, among others, visited the deceased student.  

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has been closed until June 25 as the flood situation has worsened in Sylhet. University authorities took the decision at an emergency syndicate meeting Friday morning considering sufferings of the teachers, students, and employees due to floods in the city and other parts of the district, SUST treasurer Dr. Md Anwarul Islam told UNB. He said many places of the university have been inundated due to heavy downpours and the onrush of hilly water. READ: Flood situation worsens in Sylhet, Sunamganj, thousands marooned Meanwhile, students of the dormitories are leaving the campus as they are facing severe problems including power cuts and the crisis of drinking water. However, the first-year admission test of the ‘Cha’ unit for the 2022-2023 sessions was held on Friday braving the deluge. The overall flood situation has worsened in Sylhet, Sunamganj and Moulvibazar districts as rivers continue to swell due to onrush of hill water and heavy downpour for the last several days. Army troops have been deployed in Sylhet to tackle the situation.

There is some guarded hope for a resolution to the crisis at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), after agitating students seemed prepared to sit for discussions with Education Minister Dipu Moni over an online platform like Zoom. This was after the education minister urged the protesting students once again to sit with her for talks to resolve the current standoff, moving away from their hunger strike. “Students can hold a discussion with us even during the hunger strike if they wish as it is the only way to reach a solution,” the minister said after holding a meeting with a delegation of teachers from SUST at her residence at 6:05pm. She went on saying, “Due to some family obligations, I’m unable to go to Sylhet at the moment but the door is always open for the students for discussions. A delegation team from the ministry will go to SUST if they want.” She also said the police action on the students was really unfortunate. “We never expect this type of incident”. Later, in response to the minister’s call, the students said they want to sit for discussions with her on an online platform. “If she can’t come to Sylhet, we’re ready to have discussions.” Earlier in the day, the students brought out a symbolic coffin procession on the campus.  Around 8pm, they lit candles at Golchattar as part of their protests. Meanwhile, 17 of the 24 students – already on hunger strike since Wednesday afternoon – were hospitalised. On Friday, Education Minister Dipu Moni talked to the students and said she wanted a solution to the crisis as soon as possible. On Monday, the students wrote an open letter to President Abdul Hamid, chancellor of the university, demanding the immediate removal of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed. The students also turned down the notice of shutting down the university for an indefinite period and the directive to leave their dormitories. Currently, the students are staying on the campus. SUST was supposed to shut down following a clash on the campus between police and the protesting students on January 16. The students were asked to leave the dormitories by 12pm the next day.

Now twelve  of the 24 students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on an indefinite hunger strike since Wednesday have been hospitalised till Friday. The 24 students embarked on fast-unto-death on Wednesday afternoon, demanding the resignation of the university's Vice-Chancellor. In the past two days, most of the protesting students have fallen sick, UNB has learnt. While Twelve of them have been hospitalised after their blood sugar levels dropped, remaining all were being given intravenous saline at the venue. One more left the venue in the early hours of Friday as his relative fell sick. Also read: SUST students ‘fall sick’ on 2nd day of hunger strike; one hospitalised

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has been forced to shut following a serious clash on campus between police and protesting students Sunday. The decision was taken at an emergency syndicate meeting held on Sunday evening and students were asked to leave the residential halls by Monday 12 pm. Meanwhile the provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall Zafrin Ahmed, the person at the centre of the disquiet prevailing on the campus, resigned from her post citing health issues. Dr Nazia Chowdhury of Physics department has been appointed in her place, said Farid Uddin Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of SUST. Also read: SUST VC attacked and confined by protesting students Removal of Zafrin Ahmed as provost of the residential hall for female students was one of the principal demands of students protesting on the campus.

The pandemic and the consequent curbs on social interactions have had a marked effect on the mental health of teens and youths worldwide. With educational institutions -- schools, colleges and universities -- reopening in a staggered way across Bangladesh, some students are returning to physical classes, having experienced some level of stress and anxiety -- symptoms of depression. Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet is one of the few academic institutions in Bangladesh to have taken an innovative and positive stride in supporting the students' transition back to classrooms from remote learning. Read Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health: 10 Tips for Parents The varsity is offering a mental health service for its students through the 'SUST Moner Kotha' Facebook page, an online platform under the supervision of Director of Student Welfare Prof Zahir Uddin Ahmed and psychologist Fazilatunnesa Shapla. The mental health service is available on demand for students across departments -- not to mention that confidentiality is the key to wooing the young minds. What prompted the initiative The unwanted deaths of Torabi Binte Haque and Asiya Akhtar, both students of SUST's Bangla department, Touhidul Alam Pratyay of Physics department, and Sabbir Ahmed of Chemistry department, during Covid have shaken the entire student community. Read Mental Health: Types of Mental Illness and supporting someone with a mental health problem Not to mention the suicides of Alamgir Kabir, a chemistry student of the university, and Md Mahfuzur Rahman, an assistant professor with the mechanical engineering department, during the pandemic. Farzana Akhter, a second-year student of Bangla department, said, "We have sadly lost some people from SUST in the past one-and-a-half years. Five of them ended their own lives, including a teacher." "But in order to stay mentally and physically healthy in times of crisis, student advisors and teachers, including a psychologist, have been holding various sessions and discussion programmes online. We hope to benefit from the initiative," she added. Prabal Barua, a fourth-year economics student, said, “After a long hiatus, we have started physically attending classes. If we think about the mental state during this pandemic, it can be touted as miserable." Also read: SUST offers free data to students The initiative  Md Samiul Islam, dean of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University, said that besides academic studies, students should focus on outdoor sports. "Outdoor activities play an important role in shaping the mental health of students." Echoing similar sentiments, Zaida Sharmin, the provost of a female dorm, said that the devastation of the pandemic has emerged as a huge challenge for all. “We all have to work together patiently to deal with such stress. It is necessary to avail various initiatives of the counselling cell to cope with any mental health issue," she told UNB. Also read: SUST entry test: Application process ends tonight Fazilatunnesa, the university psychologist, said, that students should not shy away from availing the mental health service. "Our doors are open for all students. We continue to provide mental healthcare counselling online and in person. We are also following up with the students taking counselling sessions," she said. SUST Proctor Associate Prof Dr Alamgir Kabir said, "Our disciplinary committee is working on the overall safety of students. Many students who are currently returning to campus after this long closure have come to us with mental health issues. We are trying to help them." Read World Mental Health Day: What effect does depression have on the performance of athletes? Prof Zahir Uddin added, “We have launched this mental health service for students. We want every student to do well in their life -- be it in their academic career or mental wellness." SUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed said, "Our teachers are on the job. We have also instructed each and every department to ensure a sound mental health for all their students."

After nearly 19 months of Covid-forced closure,  Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) welcomed back its residential students to the dormitories with flowers and banners. Only vaccinated final-year honours and master’s students were allowed to enter the dormitories  after showing  valid documents and proof of receiving at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. Also:SUST to reopen dorms in phased manner from October 25 Students of other sessions will gradually be allowed to enter the residential halls in phases within the next few days. SUST Vice Chancellor Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed  welcomed back the students after joining a ceremony virtually in the television room of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall. Provosts of the five SUST dormitories were present at the function. VC Farid Uddin  said,'' Health guidelines will be strictly maintained inside the dorms. We (authority) will be vigilant in ensuring that no one illegally occupies the dormitory seats.” The UNB correspondent found students in a cheerful mood as they were waiting to enter their second home after a long hiatus. Sajjad Bhuiyan, a first-year master's student of the university's Political Studies department, said, "After a long break, we have been able to enter our residential halls. The good management of the hall authorities has fascinated us.” Physical classes are likely to begin in some departments from the first week of November. However, online classes will continue, university authorities said earlier.