Education
Hizbut campaigns in BUET to shun western values: Campus sources
A new CCTV footage has emerged showing two youths disseminating what appeared leaflets on BUET campus containing messages of banned militant outfit Hizbut Taharir reportedly asking students to abandon all western values and join crusade against westerners, according to campus sources.
The footage came to light within weeks after a group of students held a press conference following repeated death threats online and over the phone because they became vocal over clandestine activities of these "extremist groups" focused on the campus.
These students held the press conference following an email campaign sent on behalf of Hizbut in several phases, throughout March, where they asked students to take part in the fight to run the country in light of Khilafat and described BCL as the biggest enemy.
Dated February 19, 2024, the nearly 3- minute footage shows both youths with one carrying a bag walked through a narrow alley between rows of classrooms housed in civil engineering building.
Moments later, the duo turned around, with one stayed ahead to keep a tight vigil and the other brought out leaflets from his bag and passed those beneath the classroom doors locked back then, leaving for students to read messages once they appear in classrooms.
These students also asked the respective authorities to investigate how such outfits got hold of email accounts of students.
In addition to email campaign and leaflet distribution video, several students acknowledged that in past they found posters of Hizbut plastered on walls surrounding BUET.
Several students confirmed receiving the email and presence of posters that featured a QR code with messages from Hizbut.
Facebook pages affiliated with lobbyists and lawyers hired by family of Jamaat-e-Islami backed notorious war criminals were found spreading disinformation against those vocal against student front of Jamaat: Islami Chhatra Shibir, according campus sources who wished anonymity.
Actively took part in carrying out genocide in 1971, Shibir, renamed from Chhatara Sangha and reborn in 1977, began acting with a long-term main objective to establish Islamic society countering secular spirit of the country.
Self-style killing mission and cutting tendons of students who they deem rival are reported trademark of Shibir.
The outfit ranked as the third most active no state armed group in the work according to a U.S. based defence think tank IHS Jane’s global Terrorism and Insurgency index.
Earlier, in last June, as many as 24 students of BUET, activists and leaders of shibir were caught while plotting conspiracy against state in a remote haor area.
Local Jamaat leaders back then reportedly confirmed media over allegiance of detainees with Shibir. Even a former central president of Shibir in an interview boasted of having a large network of students on BUET campus.
The active presence of Shibir and other extremists on BUET came to the fore during war crimes trial back in 2013 when two students in a span of five months were brutally attacked reportedly for their stance for war crimes trial and extremist politics.
One student Arif Raihan Dip, hacked on the dormitory by a fellow student who ascribed that vicious ideologue in broad daylight, died of his wounds and another Tonmoy Ahmed, left to die after stabbed brutally by Shibir activists but survived the battle for life, now living with scars of horrific machete attack.
However, on social media an orchestrated attempt was underway to undermine the gravity of the crime by raising some unnecessary questions like why channels that on air the entire video did not add voice over.
A reality check reveals all the six channels that posted the video clearly attributed to the simple fact: cctv footage captures moments of distribution of leaflets in a covert manner.
A senior journalist who worked with a foreign outlet said “attempt to raise question over why so many channels telecast the same footage by multiple channels clearly runs out of fact and a deliberate act that can only help the cause of these extremist groups and the building is located on BUET. Running the same cctv footage is not problematic”.
On a recent post, Tonmoy pointed out “discussion on the activities of these outfits on BUET campus long remained a taboo coupled with a denial mood from respective segments added as advantage to these outfits.
DMP Deputy Commissioner (media and public relations) Faruk Hossain told media “ it is important to get full cooperation from students and teachers over activities of such extremist groups on the campus to ensure no student fall prey to these vicious group’s brainwashing. Unless there is cooperation from all quarters, it is difficult to check such activities”.
Cuet students’ road safety movement postponed, to resume classes
The ongoing road safety movement by Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) students has been postponed following a bilateral meeting between the university administration and the students on Thursday night.
The vehicular movement on busy Chattogram-Rangamati’s Kaptai Road resumed around 11:30pm after the protesting students left it.
Moreover, the students decided to return to their academic activities deferring their movement.
In a statement signed by the university’s Registrar (additional duty) Prof Dr Sheikh Mohammad Humayun Kabir on Thursday night said that a decision will be made in the syndicate meeting to be held on Friday to reconsider the closure of academic activities.
However, the students will be allowed to stay in the dormitories till then, it read.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, the Cuet was declared closed for an indefinite period as students burst into protests demanding road safety after the deaths of two fellows in a fatal road accident on April 22.
Besides, the male students were asked to vacate dormitories by 5pm on Thursday and the female students by 9am on Friday.
Two Cuet students—Shanto Saha, a 3rd year student and Tawfiq Hasan, a 2nd year student of Civil engineering department, died when a bus of ‘Shah Amanat’ paribahan hit a motorbike on Chattogram-Kaptai road at Zianagar in Rangunia upazila on Monday.
As soon as the news spread, some Cuet students vandalised three buses and set one more on fire on that day.
The students took to the streets boycotting classes and examinations and continued their protests till Wednesday blocking the Chattogram-Kaptai road by setting fire on logs and tyres to press home their 9 point demand for safe road.
They demanded arrest of the bus driver and his assistant and their exemplary punishment.
The other demands include providing compensation to the deceased and bearing the medical expenses of the student injured in the accident, establishment of modern treatment centre with all facilities on the campus, proving ambulances with modern equipment, stopping movement of all local buses including Shah Amanat and AB Travels on the road, examining liscences of the buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws that ply the road , making the Student Welfare Council under accountable and forming students representative group.
Bus driver Md Tazul Islam was arrested from the Kotwali area of Chattogram city on Wednesday afternoon.
Secondary schools, colleges to reopen April 28 amid heat wave
Secondary schools and colleges which were closed due to heat wave condition will reopen across the country on April 28 (Sunday) although the sweltering heat is unlikely to abate soon.
However, daily assemblies at these institutions will remain suspended until the heat wave becomes tolerable, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Education on Thursday.
Schools, colleges to remain closed till Apr 27 due to heat wave
Besides, other activities at these educational institutions which are done outside the classrooms or requires sun exposure will remain limited .
The notice also said classes will be held on Saturdays until further notice to compensation the education losses caused by the closure of the educational institutions due to heat wave and other reasons.
Heat wave: Assembly at all govt primary schools suspended
The schools and colleges were schedule to open on April 21 after the end of Eid holidays but the closure was extended till April 27 due to sweltering heat across the country caused by heat wave.
According to a bulletin of Bangladesh Metrological Department, the ongoing heat wave may persist for 72 hours starting Thursday morning.
Schools with less than 50 students to be merged with nearby schools
The highest temperature of the country was recoded at 41.6 degree Celsius at Mongla in Khulna on Wednesday.
Cuet closed as tensions flare over 2 students’ death in road crash
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) was declared closed for an indefinite period on Thursday as students burst into protests demanding road safety after the deaths of two fellows in a fatal road accident on April 22.
The decision to close the university was taken in the 151st emergency meeting of the academic council led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, said the university’s Deputy Director (coordination) Fazlur Rahman.
All academic activities including exams will remain suspended during the period, he said.
The male students were asked to vacate dormitories by 5pm on Thursday and the female students by 9am on Friday.
Two Cuet students—Shanto Saha, a 3rd year student and Tawfiq Hasan, a 2nd year student of Civil engineering department, died when a bus of ‘Shah Amanat’ paribahan hit a motorbike on Chattogram-Kaptai road at Zianagar in Rangunia upazila on Monday.
As soon as the news spread, some Cuet students vandalised three buses and set one more on fire on that day.
The students took to the streets boycotting classes and examinations and continued their protests till Wednesday blocking the Chattogram-Kaptai road by setting fire on logs and tyres to press home their 9 point demand for safe road.
They demanded arrest of the bus driver and his assistant and their exemplary punishment.
The other demands include providing compensation to the deceased and bearing the medical expenses of the student injured in the accident, establishment of modern treatment centre with all facilities on the campus, proving ambulances with modern equipment, stopping movement of all local buses including Shah Amanat and AB Travels on the road, examining liscences of the buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws that ply the road , making the Student Welfare Council under accountable and forming students representative group.
Bus driver Md Tazul Islam was arrested from the Kotwali area of Chattogram city on Wednesday afternoon,
JnU to continue virtual classes
Due to the heat wave, the Jagannath University administration has decided to continue online classes until further notice.
No examinations will be held during the period, said a circular signed by Prof. Dr. Ainul Islam, acting Registrar of Jagannath University (JnU) on Thursday.
According to the notice, due to the ongoing heat wave all over the country, all classes will he held virtually and examinations will remain suspended until further notice considering health safety.
The notification also requested students to follow rules to avoid health risks during the ongoing heat wave.
Earlier, the university administration decided to take all the classes virtually for a week in an emergency meeting on April 21.
Decision on extending closure of schools, colleges Saturday: State Minister
Decision on extending the existing closure of schools and colleges prompted by heat wave will be taken on Saturday, said state minister for education Shamsun Nahar.
“We are not certain about the temperature. It may go up or down. We have two days off (Friday and Saturday) and after observing the situation we will decide,” she said while talking to reporters at her office on Thursday.
Probe body formed over the drowning of DU student in swimming pool
Replying to a question, the state minister said, “Our minister will return home on Friday and then we’ll take a decision in this regard.”
Replying to a question whether there is any alternative plan about taking classes, she said taking classes online could be an alternative way but students in rural areas are can’t afford it and decision will be taken considering all these things.
Earlier on April 20, due to the ongoing heat wave condition, the authorities concerned extended closure of schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical education institution across the country until April 27 (Saturday) which were scheduled to open after Eid holidays on April 21.
Heat wave forces DU to shift to online classes
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued a warning that the ongoing heat wave persist for 72 hours starting Thursday morning.
Probe body formed over the drowning of DU student in swimming pool
A five-member probe body was formed on Tuesday to look into the death of a Dhaka University student who drowned in a swimming pool of the university on Monday.
Headed by Prof. Maksudur Rahman, proctor of Dhaka University, the committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days.
The other members of the committee are—DU assistant proctor Abdul Muhit, Chairman of Philosophy Department Prof Dr Shah Kawsar Mustafa Abdul Ulayee, assistant professor of Information Science and Library Management Department Prof. Mohammad Sharif Ul Islam and assistant professor of Bangla Department Jashim Uddin.
The committee was asked to investigate whether there was any negligence of those who were responsible for the management of the swimming pool.
Earlier, Muhammad Soad Haque ,19, a student of Dhaka University’s Philosophy department, drowned in the swimming pool of the university on Monday.
2 IU probe bodies find involvement of 3 BCL men in torturing student
The probe bodies formed by the Islamic University authorities and the Lalon Shah Hall administration have found the involvement of three activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League(BCL) in torturing a student of Al-Fiqh and Legal Studies Department on the campus on February 7.
The investigation committees submitted their reports to the university administration on Monday afternoon, sources at IU VC office said on Tuesday.
The BCL activists Physical Education Department’s second year student Mudassir Khan Kafi, Islamic History and Culture Department second year student Mohammad Sagor and Uzzal Hossain, supporters of IU BCL unit general secretary Nasim Ahmed Joy.
The probe bodies recommended the university administration to take proper action against the accused involved in the incident.
Action will be taken against the accused as per the University Act in the next disciplinary committee meeting as the probe bodies found their involvement in torturing the student, IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan said.
According to the probe bodies, a group of Chhatra League activists led by Mudassir Khan Kafi and Mohammad Sagor called the victim at room 136 of Lalon Shah Hall.
They undressed the victim and tortured him there from midnight to 4:30am on February 7. The accused, at one point, assaulted the victim with a steel stick as he refused to perform as they ordered.
The BCL activists tortured the victim both physically and mentally, IU law administrator and also a member of the probe body formed by the university administration professor M Anisur Rahman said.
On February 12, 2023 night, a first-year female student of Finance and Banking department, was tortured by the IU Chhatra League vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her associates, including Tabassum, Mim, Urmi and Maobiya Jahan, at Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on the campus in Kushtia.
The incident sparked huge protests at Islamic University as well as other educational institutions across the country.
The university administration expelled Ontora and her four associates from the university on August 21 following a High Court order.
BUET dissolves its campus journalists' club
The authority of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET) has dissolved the executive committee of its journalists club named BUET Journalists Association.
The declaration of dissolving the committee came with an official notice signed by BUET DSW assistant director Dr. Rupak Mutsuddy.
"Due to unavoidable reasons, the Executive Council 2023-24 Committee of the University's co-curricular club BUET Journalists Association has been declared dissolved," the notice reads.
Heat wave forces DU to shift to online classes
In this regard, Prof. Mohammad Al Amin Siddique, Director of BUET's Directorate of Student Welfare (DSW), said, "The committee has been abolished. We will make decision regarding the formation of committee after reviewing the scope of the association and looking at the constitution.”
It may be mentioned, members of BUET Journalists Association are not involved in journalism in any national media. Rather they have their own news portal and Facebook page, where they disseminate information related to BUET.
UGC to train teachers of 20 public universities countrywide
In an effort to enhance the professional skills of novice teachers in the 20 public universities across the country, the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) and the Graduate Training Institute (GTI) organized a foundational training program.
The inaugural ceremony of the training program was held in the GTI classroom of BAU on Sunday (April 21) at 9.30am, where BAU VC was present as the chief guest.
A total of 25 teachers participated in this training program which will be held from April 21 to May 23.
RUET team clinches 3rd place in Huawei ICT Competition APAC Round in Indonesia
Dr. Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), stated about GTI, 'Basic training is provided to public university teachers through GTI. This training is widely recognized throughout the country.'
Addressing the participants, he said that your participation in the training will be evident from your conduct and teaching skills. The knowledge and skills acquired from this training will serve as an aid to your teaching profession.
UGC probe body finds evidence of corruption, irregularities against IU VC
Chaired by Dr. Bentul Mawa, Director of GTI, Senior Education Advisor of the World Bank Dr. Md. Mahamud Ul Hoque, former Director of GTI Dr. Md. Mozahar Ali and Senior Course Coordinator Dr. Masuma Habib, were present as the special guests.