United News of Bangladesh

The intern doctors of Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) continued their indefinite work abstention for the fourth day today, demanding the arrest of attackers who clashed with students of the college. The drug stores in front of the hospital are also on strike demanding the same. This has added to the suffering of the patients and their relatives. Also read: Clash with medicine traders: KMCH students boycott classes Meanwhile, in the matter of attacks on students, KMCH Secretary Moniruzzaman filed a case with Sonadanga Model Police Station on Wednesday night. Four people and 50 pharmacy traders have been named as accused in the case. After the case was filed, Mahmudur Rahman Biplob, 30, owner of Biplob Pharmacy and Mir Bayezid, 20, an employee of Abid Pharmacy, were arrested early Thursday. The Intern Doctors' Council of Khulna Medical College Hospital has been observing an indefinite work abstention since Monday night. Also read: KMCH intern doctors call for work abstention over clash between students and medicine traders The president of the council, Saiful Islam, has announced that they will continue the strike till their demands are met. He said 14 to 15 of them were injured in the attack. The students of Khulna Medical College continued their class boycott for the second day, demanding the arrest of the attackers. They started their hunger strike in front of the emergency department of the hospital at noon today. On the other hand, 90 medicine shops in front of Khulna Medical College have been closed since the clash. The Khulna chapter of Bangladesh Chemist and Druggists Association has decided to continue the strike until the medical students who they say "attacked the shopkeepers" are arrested. SM Kabir Uddin Bablu, vice-president of the association, said 10 to 12 shop owners and employees were injured in the attack. Also read: Attack on doctor: Medical services at Khulna hospitals hampered as physicians go on 24hr work abstention Director of Khulna Medical College Hospital Md Robiul Hossain said a model pharmacy will be started in the hospital soon as per the demands of the students. He spoke to the authorities concerned about the arrest of the attackers and setting up of a police outpost within the hospital. Deputy Commissioner (South) of Khulna Metropolitan Police Tajul Islam said police have been deployed in front of the hospital to control the situation. Meanwhile, Khulna City Corporation Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Khulna-2 MP Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel visited the injured students at the hospital on Wednesday night. They assured the students that they have directed the police administration to arrest the attackers. On Monday Hasan Ferdous, a medical college student, went to Biplob Medicine Corner in front of KMCH to buy medicines. At one point, shopowner Biplob insulted him, he said. Later Hasan went back to the campus and informed other students about the matter. The students went to the drug store, and a clash ensued between them and the medicine traders.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams for 2024 will be held in February while Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams will be held in April, Bangladesh's Education Minister Dipu Moni said today (August 17, 2023). “For the past several years, the authorities concerned had to rearrange the academic calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disaster, but it will be fully set from next year,” she hoped. The minister came up with the information while talking to reporters after visiting an SSC exam hall at Tejgaon College in Dhaka. “We will try our level best to hold HSC exams in April and SSC exams in February, from next year,” she added. HSC exams to be held on schedule: Dipu Moni Dipu Moni claimed that there has been no question paper leak in public exams in the last five years. “We have been on alert to prevent question paper leak since 2015 and I hope there will be no untoward incident during this year’s HSC exams.” If anyone tried to spread rumours, law enforcing agencies will take stern action against them, she said. HSC and equivalent exams for 2023 began across the country today. Students sat for the Bangla first paper exam on the first day, at 10 am. HSC exams to start on August 17 as per schedule: Dipu Moni A total of 13,59, 342 students — 6,88, 887 boys and 6,70,455 girls — are expected to sit for this year’s HSC exams, 1,55,935 more than the previous year. According to the routine, HSC written exams will continue till September 25 while practical exams will be held from September 26 to October 4. The HSC exams is being held at 2,658 exam centres and 9,169 educational institutions. Among the total students, 11,08,594 students will appear for HSC under the nine general education boards, 98,031 under the Madrasa board, and 1,52,717 under the Technical Education board. Not possible to nationalise private educational institutions before national polls: Dipu Moni

This year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations will begin across the country on Thursday with the Bangla first paper. A total of 13,59, 342 students—6,88, 887 boys and 6,70,455 girls--- are expected to appear in this year’s HSC examinations, 1,55,935 more than the previous year. According to the routine, HSC written exams will continue till September 25. Read: Ctg and Madrasa Board announce fresh dates for deferred HSC exams Practical exams will be held from September 26 to October 4. HSC exams will be held for three hours from 10 am to 1 pm and 2pm to 5pm. The HSC exams will be held at 2,658 exam centres and 9,169 educational institutions. Read: HSC exams to be held on schedule: Dipu Moni Among the total students, 11,08,594 students will appear for the exams under the nine general education boards, 98,031 under the Madrasha board and 1,52,717 under the Technical Education board. Like the previous years, students have to enter their respective examination halls  30 minutes before the examination starts. Read more: HSC exams to start on August 17 as per schedule: Dipu Moni

Students of Khulna Medical College Hospital boycotted classes and held a sit-in programme in front of the college on Wednesday morning over a clash with medicine traders. At the time, the students locked the hospital director's office. Intern doctors are also on work abstention for the second day. Earlier on Monday night, a clash occurred between medicine traders and students in front of Khulna Medical College. At least 20 students and nine medicine traders were injured in the clash. Read: KMCH intern doctors call for work abstention over clash between students and medicine traders Due to the incident, the intern doctors are on a work abstention from August 15. On the other hand, the medicine traders kept their drug stores closed for the second day. Students claimed that a student of Khulna Medical College locked into an argument with a shopkeeper at a drugstore over price of medicine. At one point, several shopkeepers beat him up. When the other students learned about it, they went to the drugstore, and the shopkeepers beat them up too.  

East West University (EWU) inaugurated its newly built modern cafeteria on Monday, with the aim of serving fresh food to the students in a pleasant environment, at its permanent campus in the capital’s Aftabnagar. The cafeteria was inaugurated by Syed Manzur Elahi, chairperson, Board of Trustees of EWU. Also read: EWU Robotics Club wins ITechExpo IUBAT 2022 Prof Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, chief adviser of EWU was present at the inauguration ceremony, alongside HN Ashequr Rahman, MP, member of EWU Board of Trustees and Professor Dr MM Shahidul Hassan, the university's vice chancellor. Along with other members of the Board of Trustees, the programme was also attended by the pro-VC, treasurer, dean, chief engineer, registrar, and heads of the academic and administrative departments of EWU. Also read: EWU wins cultural competition at ULAB's 8th Inter-University Student Conference In this recently constructed cafeteria, 500 people can eat at once, according to the EWU authority. Meals can be prepared for 10,000 people every day in its newly built kitchen. Furthermore, it includes central air conditioning, artistic decoration, and an automated fire extinguishing system.

Amidst the intensifying accommodation crisis that casts a shadow over the academic pursuits of many, students of the Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall of Dhaka University (DU) have demanded the relocation of around 300 students and submitted a memorandum to DU Vice-Chancellor Dr Akhtaruzzaman. Following the memorandum handover, the students voiced their concerns and requests at a gathering hosted by the Dhaka University Journalists' Association Sunday afternoon (August 13). They collected signatures from 105 fellow students who endorsed the call for action. They also announced to stage a sit-in demonstration at the Vice-Chancellor's office premises, scheduled for on Monday. BUET students protest as Abrar Fahad's murder accused attends class Their key demands encompass the transfer of at least 300 students from the overcrowded Maitree Hall to an alternative accommodation within a one-month timeframe. Additionally, they are urging the university administration to ensure student allotment aligns with the hall's seating capacity and to maintain a conducive learning environment by limiting the room occupancy to a maximum of six students per room in the main building. During the press conference, the students conveyed that despite the limited space of Maitri Hall, the annual intake of students has consistently increased. Consequently, female students from the 2019-20 academic year still find themselves without proper accommodations even as they reach their fourth year. This predicament then cascades onto the subsequent batches, causing an acute shortage of available seats. 24 Buet students, 8 others granted bail 2 days after arrest during Tanguar Haor tour Highlighting further complications, the students pointed out that five guest rooms in the main building of the hall currently house 100 students who each pay an annual fee of TK4000. Shockingly, this arrangement is supported by only three washrooms which is severely inconveniencing the residents. Similarly, the Sikdar Manowara building declared as vulnerable, provides lodging for 110 students on its third floor, but with only two washrooms available. A mere single washroom serves a staggering 24 students residing on the second floor. An unauthorized open-air ‘library’ on Dhaka University campus raises eyebrows Commenting on the matter, Professor Akhtaruzzaman said, "I have personally visited the hall and engaged in discussions with the students. Their demands are entirely justified. Moving forward, we must curtail the student intake to ensure a sustainable housing situation. We are committed to doing everything within our capabilities." “I have already communicated the issue to the chief engineer for necessary actions,” he said. The press conference was attended by student representatives including Nusrat Imroz, Hafsa Islam Dipa, Nusrat Jahan, Ria Moni Akhtar, Rawonak Jahan, and Nishita Zaman Niha, all of whom articulated the collective concerns and aspirations of their fellow students.  

The digital file (D-file) system on Sunday was introduced in 10 more public universities as a part of the move to establish paperless offices in the country. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni inaugurated the D-file system in the universities through a ceremony arranged by University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh here in the city. The 10 public universities are Jahangirnagar University, Islamic University, Sher-e Bangla Agricultural University; Jagannath University; Bangladesh University of Professionals, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology; Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Jashore Science and Technology University; Barishal University and Rangamati Science and Technology University. Earlier, the D-file system was introduced in eight public universities. With the eight institutes, now a total of 18 public universities introduced the D-file system. Read: Ctg and Madrasa Board announce fresh dates for deferred HSC exams Addressing the function, the education minister said the D-file system will bring mobility, transparency and accountability in office work. “It is creating the culture of transparency and accountability and reducing scopes of corruption,” she said.Dipu Moni asked the other public universities to implement the D-file system.Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury asked all to ensure the maximum use of digital technology shunning the traditional mindset. He put emphasis on imparting ICT related practical knowledge to the students alongside the classroom teaching. UGC Chairman Dr Kazi Shahidullah presided over the function, while UGC member Dr Md Sazzad Hossain, Vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Dr Md Nurul Alam and UGC Secretary Dr Ferdous Zaman spoke on the occasion, said a press release. Read: Racket earned hundreds of crores of taka through medical admission test question leak in 17 years: CID The eight universities where the D-file system was introduced in February last are Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University and Sheikh Hasina University.

The Chattogram Education Board and Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board announced the new dates for the HSC and Alim examinations which were postponed due to flood. The decision was announced this afternoon, said a notice, signed by Narayan Chandra Nath, Controller of Chattogram Education Board. According to the new schedule, the HSC Bangla first paper will now be held on Sept 27, the Bangla 2nd paper exam will be held on Oct 1, the English first paper on Oct 3, and the English 2nd paper on Oct 5. However, the other exams will be held as per the previous schedule. Meanwhile, the first four subjects of Madrasa Education Board's Alim exams will be held October 1, 3, 5 and 8, reads the notice. The Quran Mazid examination scheduled for August 17 will be held from 10am to 1pm on October 1. The Arabic 1st paper -205 and Arabic Literature-223 examinations will now be held from 10am to 1pm on October 3. Apart from this, Bangla First Paper-236 examination will be held on October 5 and Bangla Second Paper-237 examination will be held from 10am to 1pm on October 8. In the face of heavy rain and flooding in the Chattogram Division, the Chattogram Education Board, the Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board, and the Technical Education Board deferred the HSC and equivalent exams by 10 days. The education boards in Bangladesh were set to start the HSC exams on Aug 17, but the dates for the three boards were then rescheduled to Aug 27. A total of 13,59, 342 students—6,88, 887 boys and 6,70,455 girls--- expected to appear in this year’s HSC examination, 1,55,935 more than the previous year as a total of 12,03, 407 students sat for the exam last year. The HSC exams will be held at 2,658 exam centres and 9,169 educational institutions. Among the total students, 11,08,594 students will appear for the exam under the nine general education boards, 98,031 under the Madrasa board and 1,52,717 under the Technical Education board.

At least 80 active members of a racket have earned hundreds of crores of taka by illegally admitting hundreds of students to medical colleges in the last 17 years. CID chief Mohammad Ali Mia, additional inspector general of police, said this at a press conference at the CID Headquarters in Malibagh on Sunday. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested 12 people, including seven doctors, in connection with leaking question papers of the medical college admission test. Read: HSC exams to be held on schedule: Dipu Moni Among the arrestees, four were associated with the BNP and one with the Jamaat-e-Islami, said the CID chief. Mohammad Ali said that around 15 lakh students from all over the country will take part in this year' HSC exams scheduled to start on August 17. Every year, a gang becomes active when public examinations start and leaks questions in various ways, he added. Read: Scholastica takes national level top honors in British Council's 'Your World' video competition “We have already identified many fraud members involved in the question paper leak of SSC, HSC, Dhaka University admission test and BCS and brought them under law.” Recently, the cyber police of the CID found a huge syndicate that regularly leaks questions in the admission tests of the medical colleges of the country. Following this, CID conducted drives and arrested them, he added.

The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent exams will start from August 17 as per the schedule, said Education Minister Dipu Moni  on Friday. The only exceptions may be in disaster-hit areas, if any.  The minister said this after inaugurating the upwardly extended academic building of Lady Pratima Mitra Girls' High School in Chandpur this afternoon. "We have a system that if the examination has to be stopped in any place due to natural calamity during the examination period, the examinations stop locally. And the rest of the places which educational institutions are not affected, conduct the exams as per the schedule," she added. Read: Jahangirnagar University's exam irregularities raise concerns among students Regarding the students' movement, the minister said that some candidates always think before the exam that if they get some time, they can prepare well. Only for them, we can not postpone the examinations of so mony students. "It is a public exam, it is important to take it on time, so there is no chance of postponing the exam," Dipu Moni said. The minister also asked the protesting students to go back to their study table. "If they prepare without wasting time, I believe they will do well." Read: No scholarship exam to be held in class five: Ministry Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mo Hedayet Ullah, District Awami League Leader Advocate Ranjit Roy Chowdhury, Municipal Awami League General Secretary Aminur Rahman Babul were also present at that time. Earlier, the minister inaugurated Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Chatwar at Puran Bazar Degree College in the town. A total of 13,59, 342 students—6,88, 887 boys and 6,70,455 girls--- expected to appear in this year’s HSC examination, 1,55,935 more than the previous year as  a total of 12,03, 407 students sat for the exam last year, she said. Read: Freshers' Reception and orientation held at Southeast University  The HSC exams will be held at 2,658 exam centres and 9,169 educational institutions. Among the total students, 11,08,594 students will appear for the exam under the nine general education boards, 98,031 under the Madrasha board and 1,52,717 under the Technical Education board.