United News of Bangladesh

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized contraband goods worth a total of Tk 347.81 crore during separate drives in border areas and elsewhere across the country in August. The seized contraband items included 8.554 kg of gold, 21,646 sarees, 3,962 three-piece sets, shirts, bed sheets and blankets, 5,154 pieces of ready-made garments, 1,887 metres of cloth, 5,851 pieces of imitation jewellery and 606,241 cosmetic items. BGB also seized 1,040,196 pieces of fireworks, 4,711 cubic feet of timber, 104,494 kg of coal, 610 cubic feet of stone, 8,628 cubic feet of sand, 17,130 kg of tea leaves, 8,715 kg of betel nuts, 418 mobile phones, 7,848 mobile phone displays and 34,111 mobile phone components. Other seized items included 18,500 Gillette blades, 11,758 pairs of glasses, 378,232 packets of chocolate, 7,637 packets of various seeds, 56,622 kg of cumin, 18,960 kg of garlic, 131 kg of cardamom, 7,972 kg of sugar, 34,057 kg of fertiliser, 180,000 shrimp fry, 11,451 kg of current nets (monofilament gill nets), 743 litres of edible and fuel oil, 560 packets of pesticides, 604,788 pieces of various medicines, 5.7 kg of snake venom and nine pieces of touchstone/sandstone. The paramilitary border force also seized 14 trucks/covered vans, 10 pickup trucks, six private cars, three trolleys, 61 CNGs/easy-bikes/auto-rickshaws/pushcarts, 91 motorcycles, 83 bicycles/vans and 97 boats, according to a BGB press release issued on Wednesday afternoon. The recovered weapons included 14 domestic and foreign-made pistols, 10 magazines and 74 rounds of ammunition. BGB also seized a large quantity of narcotics and intoxicating substances during the month. The seized drugs and intoxicants included 4,593,863 Yaba tablets, 4 kg of crystal meth (Ice), 1,371 bottles of Phensedyl, 7,636 bottles of foreign liquor, 345 litres of locally produced liquor (Bangla liquor), 1,756 cans of beer, 1,863 kg 680 grams of cannabis, 228,039 narcotic tablets/injections, 22,006 bottles of various syrups, 10,643 other tablets and 126,661 packets of cigarettes. It detained 220 alleged smugglers for their involvement in drug trafficking, including Yaba trafficking, and other smuggling activities during operations along the border. The force detained 37 Bangladeshi citizens, six Indian citizens and 188 Myanmar citizens for illegally crossing the border.

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Tuesday rejected the allegation that political loyalty has been prioritised over seniority, academic qualifications and administrative experience in appointing vice-chancellors (VCs) to public universities. Responding to a question from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Nurul Islam, MP from Chapainawabganj-3, during the question-and-answer hour in Parliament, he said the allegation was "not based on facts." The Jamaat MP asked the minister to clarify the government's position on what he described as a structural erosion of neutral education administration and democratic campus environments, alleging that nearly half of VC appointments at public universities sidelined seniority and higher academic qualifications in favour of political allegiance. In his reply, the minister said VC appointments were made in accordance with the relevant university laws, taking into account candidates' seniority, academic qualifications, teaching and research experience, administrative competence and capacity for academic leadership. “No candidate's political identity was considered in the process,” he added. He said the government believes a VC’s responsibilities include ensuring academic excellence, maintaining neutrality and accountability in administration, safeguarding the rights of teachers, students and other stakeholders, and ensuring a fair, safe and democratic campus environment. Outlining the government's approach, Milon said emphasis is being placed on running university administration in line with respective laws, rules and statutes. He mentioned that syndicates, senates, academic councils and other statutory bodies are being kept functional in academic and administrative decision-making. Transparency in financial management, along with regular audits and accountability, is being strengthened, the minister said, adding that importance is being given to ensuring freedom of expression and the legitimate rights of teachers, students and staff. He said any specific allegations of irregularities, bias or abuse of power against a VC will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law. Milon reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting the autonomy of higher education institutions, neutral education administration and the academic environment, adding that merit, experience, integrity and administrative capability will continue to be prioritised in future appointments to top posts at public universities.

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon on Tuesday said the government has a proposal to appoint an office assistant in every government primary school, as the absence of such support staff currently burdens teachers with administrative work. He said the proposal would be implemented subject to approval of PEDP-5 (the fifth Primary Education Development Programme). The minister was responding to a starred written question from Prof Nazrul Islam, lawmaker from Rajshahi-5, during the question-answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad. He also said the government plans to make religious education, fine arts and music practice compulsory in all primary schools across the country to aid students' mental, moral and creative development. Responding to a question from reserved-seat MP Rokeya Begum, the minister said textbooks would include age- and class-appropriate content on the July mass uprising, the killings carried out by the then Awami League government in July-August, and various aspects of Sheikh Hasina government's "fascist" rule. This would cover the causes and course of the uprising, the killings, the sacrifices of martyrs, the role of women, and its historical significance. He added that the Class IX-X textbook "History of Bangladesh and World Civilisation" would include chapters on enforced disappearances, killings, money laundering, destruction of the electoral system, the Pilkhana tragedy, killing of journalists and interference in the media during the Awami League regime. Students will get to study these topics from the 2027 academic year, he said. Responding to Md Shawkatul Islam, MP from Moulvibazar-2, the minister said mid-day meals would be introduced in all madrashas across the country between fiscal 2026-31 under the education ministry's SEDP programme which also covers ebtedayee madrashas. Replying to Abdul Muntakim, MP from Nilphamari-4, the minister said there are 8,229 MPO-listed madrashas in Bangladesh, comprising 5,768 dakhil, 1,284 alim, 993 fazil and 184 kamil madrashas. Answering Rafiqul Islam Khan, MP from Sirajganj-4, the minister said there are currently 1,873 registered private primary schools in the country, and there is no immediate plan to nationalise them. Replying to Obaidullah Salafi, MP from Nilphamari-3, the minister said work is under way to bring all kindergarten schools under online registration for admission processing. As of July 2026, 1,783 kindergartens have been brought under registration.  

Prof. Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam Sarder of the Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics has been appointed as the 27th Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). The Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education announced the appointment following approval from the President of Bangladesh, who serves as the university's chancellor. The decision was made under Section 12(1) of the Bangladesh Agricultural University Ordinance, 1961. Prof. Sarder will serve a four-year term or until he reaches the standard retirement age, whichever comes first. A veteran academic, Dr. Sarder has held several leadership roles at the institution including student affairs adviser. He was recently awarded the National Fisheries Award 2026 Gold Medal for his contributions to fisheries science and research.

The admission tests for first-year undergraduate programmes at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) for the 2026-27 academic session will be held on January 26 and 27, 2027. The university announced the dates in a press release signed by Acting Registrar Kalam Ahmed Chowdhury on Thursday evening. He said the dates were finalized at a meeting of the university’s admission committee. Details of the test schedule, application process and unit-wise information will be announced later through a separate notice, he said. The university administration sought cooperation from all concerned to ensure smooth completion of the admission process.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon on Tuesday said the government has taken an initiative to distribute bicycles to secondary schoolgirls across the country to encourage female education. “An initiative has been undertaken to provide bicycles to encourage girls’ education at the secondary level, alongside providing a tablet to each of the 116,000 students who achieved a GPA-5, as a means of encouragement,” he said. He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) Day held at the university auditorium. The Minister said, “The government spends approximately Tk 10.75 lakh on each student. Therefore, the focus must be not only on building infrastructure but also on ensuring the proper return on this investment.” He said as part of the government’s broader plans, the Prime Minister wants to raise the current allocation for education from 3.4 percent to 5 percent in the national budget. Stressing the need for technology-oriented education, Milon called for introducing courses related to electric vehicles (EV) alongside traditional mechanical and electrical engineering. He also mentioned the need to launch modern subjects like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics at the university level, while expressing frustration over a stalled application to introduce an AI course at the University Grants Commission (UGC) for two years. The Minister also questioned the rationale behind opening new departments at the university saying, “The necessity of launching departments such as ‘Building Engineering and Construction Management’ alongside Civil Engineering, and ‘Urban and Regional Planning’ alongside Architecture, should be reviewed beforehand.” “For disciplines like Leather Engineering, laboratory facilities and existing specialized institutions in the country must also be taken into consideration,” he added. Regarding the delays in teacher recruitment he said, “The appointment of approximately 4,500 teachers is currently stalled due to complications at the Ministry of Education.” “Discussions are underway to swiftly resolve these issues and ensure the appointments,” he also said. He said in 2003, during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, four BITs were simultaneously transformed into universities, while he was working with her as the State Minister for Education. “The initiative was undertaken because the highest priority was being accorded to education,” he added. KUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr. Mohammad Mashud presided over the program, while Parliament Whip Rakibul Islam Bakul, MP, was present as a special guest. Every year, September 1 is observed as KUET Day or University Day, commemorating the institution's upgrade from a BIT to a full-fledged engineering and technology university on this day in 2003. To mark the day, the university organized various programs, including the hoisting of national and university flags, colorful rallies, project exhibitions, open lab sessions, sports competitions, discussion meetings, prayers, and cultural events.  

Khulna University (KU) will hold admission tests for first-year undergraduate (honours) courses for the 2026-27 academic year on December 17 and 18 next. The decision was taken at a meeting of the university’s Central Admission Committee on Thursday, according to a notification signed by the university’s acting Registrar Prof Dr SM Mahbubur Rahman. According to the notification, the admission tests for ‘C’ and ‘D’ units will be held on December 17. The ‘C’ unit covers disciplines under the Schools of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Education and Fine Arts. The ‘D’ unit includes disciplines under the School of Management and Business Administration. The tests for ‘A’ and ‘B’ units will be held on December 18. The ‘A’ unit covers disciplines under the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, while the ‘B’ unit includes disciplines under the School of Life Sciences. Meanwhile, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) will hold its first-year admission test for the 2026-27 academic year on January 8, 2027. The test is for admission to BSc Engineering, BURP and B.Arch programmes. To ease transportation and accommodation problems for students from different parts of the country, KUET has decided to hold the admission test at centres in three divisional cities – Khulna, Dhaka and Rajshahi. The decision was taken following discussions on undergraduate admissions at the 118th special meeting of KUET’s Academic Council held on Thursday, university sources said. The admission test will be held under the multiple-choice question (MCQ) system. An admission test committee has already been formed to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination, the sources added.

Dhaka University has honoured 62 teachers and researchers who have received 2,000 or more citations on their Google Scholar profiles, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research and efforts to enhance the university’s visibility internationally. The researchers were honoured at a ceremony held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on Thursday. The event was presided over by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A B M Obaidul Islam. Pro-vice-chancellors, the treasurer, deans of all faculties, chairmen of all departments, directors of all institutes and centres, the proctor, and the honored teachers and researchers were present. Congratulating the honored teachers and researchers, Prof Obaidul Islam said they must play a leading role in transforming the university into a research-oriented institution and improving its position in international rankings to a respectable level. He said it would not be possible to take the university forward through government funding alone. Support from the university’s alumni and industry is also needed. Highlighting various initiatives taken by the university administration to improve education and research, he said work is underway to formulate a 20-year academic development plan. He said efforts were being made to strengthen industry-academia relations and alumni networking with the aim of creating a Tk 1,000 crore fund for research and another Tk 1,000 crore fund for student welfare. Joint education and research projects are also being undertaken with renowned universities around the world. “We want to make research activities more dynamic and effective by undertaking ‘lab-to-lab’ and ‘researcher-to-researcher’ initiatives with universities and research organizations around the world,” he said. The Vice-Chancellor called on teachers and researchers to work together in a coordinated manner in this regard.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday said there is no alternative to TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) to transform the country's population into human resources. The minister made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a programme titled "A National Dialogue on TVET for a Skilled & Productive Bangladesh" held at Daffodil Plaza auditorium in Dhanmondi. The minister said technical education plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country. "We have to come out of the concept of only conventional education. There is no alternative to technical education in building a developed Bangladesh," he said, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken a plan to turn the country's huge population into human resources, and they are working keeping that goal in mind, giving the highest priority to technical education. He further said there is huge global demand for skilled manpower in technical education, noting that expatriate workers are one of the main sources of the country's foreign currency earnings. "If we can send them abroad with skills, our economy will be further enriched," he said, stressing the need to give more importance to technical education. To this end, the minister said four more engineering colleges are going to be established in Bangladesh. Besides, he said, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute will be developed as a model institution, for which a separate project is being undertaken.

The 2026 Math and Science Summer School programme has concluded with a renewed focus on encouraging more young women to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while helping them build confidence and unlock their full potential. Supported by Chevron Bangladesh, the Asian University for Women (AUW) campus in Chattogram recently hosted a vibrant and lively ceremony to mark the closing of the 2026 “Math and Science Summer School”. The event concluded with awarding certificates to 104 bright college girls from across the country who successfully completed the intensive four-week programme. Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Divisional Commissioner, Chattogram, was present as the Chief Guest. Ashiq Rahman, Director of Operations, Chevron Bangladesh, and Dee Bourbon, Lead Advisor Community Partnerships at Chevron, were also present as special guests. Their presence underscored Chevron’s long-standing partnership with AUW and its dedication to building an inclusive education system for women in Bangladesh. From AUW, Dr. Mohiuddin Ahsanul Kabir Chowdhury, Director of the Summer School, extended heartfelt gratitude to the students and faculty for their dedication and hard work, noting that the program continues to serve as a beacon of opportunity for young women across the country. Dr. Md. Ziauddin praised AUW and Chevron Bangladesh for their continued commitment to advancing women’s education and preparing future leaders in STEM. He emphasized that initiatives such as the Summer School play a vital role in shaping the next generation of scientists, innovators, and changemakers. Ashiq Rahman, Director of Operations, Chevron Bangladesh, said Chevron is proud to support the Math and Science Summer School since 2019. “Through initiatives like this, we aim to encourage more young women to pursue STEM education and unlock their potential." Dee Bourbon, Lead Advisor, Community Partnerships, Chevron, said they are proud to support a program that helps young women build confidence, expand their knowledge, and pursue opportunities that can shape their futures. A highlight of the event was the presentation of the "Emerging Woman Leader in STEM” award to nine outstanding participants in recognition of their exceptional performance and leadership potential. Since its inception in 2019, the Chevron Bangladesh-supported AUW Summer School has given 477 young women from across Bangladesh access to specialized courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer programming, and public health taught by experienced local and international faculty.