United News of Bangladesh

The authorities of the Islamic University in Kushtia on Monday expelled five of its students — a former leader and four former activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League — permanently for torturing a first-year student of finance and banking department.The decision was made at an emergency syndicate meeting held on the campus with IU vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam in the chair in the afternoon.On July 16, the university administration expelled the five students from the university for one year as per the university law, but the High Court on July 26 scrapped the expulsion order as the punishment was not handed down in accordance with the university’s code of conduct.The court also asked the vice-chancellor of the university to re-fix the punishment following the university’s Student Code of Conduct 1987. Read: Female student torture: HC scraps expulsion order against 5 IU BCL activistsThe expelled students are then BCL university unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora of statistics department and her associates Tabassum Islam and Maobiya Jahan, of finance and banking department, Halima Khatun Urmi of fine arts department and Israt Jahan Mim of law department.IU pro-vice-chancellor M Mahbubur Rahman, treasurer M Alamgir Hossain Bhuiya, acting registrar HM Ali Hasan, among others, attended the meeting.IU proctor M Shahadat Hossain Azad told UNB that the university authorities expelled Ontora and four of her associates from the university permanently following the direction of the High Court.The decision of the meeting would be sent to the High Court by August 23. Read: Recruitment anomaly: ACC starts probe against IU VCThe victim female student said, “I am satisfied with the university administration’s decision against Ontora and four of her associates.”None will dare to do such a heinous act on the campus in the future, she added.The victim was tortured and intimidated by the then IU unit BCL vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her associates, including Tabassum, Mim, Urmi and Maobiya, in Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on the campus at night on February 12.Ontora, at one stage, forced the victim to get undressed and videoed the incident on the mobile phone.Ontora also threatened that she would make the video viral on social media if the victim disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complaint the victim filed with the university administration, including the university proctor, student adviser and hall provost, on February 14.On February 15, the university authorities formed a five-member probe body headed by IU law department chairperson Reba Mondol. Read: 3 IU BCL activists suspended over medical centre vandalismTwo probe bodies formed by the Islamic University authorities submitted their reports on February 26.Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall administration expelled the five accused on February 27. On March 1, the Bangladesh Chhatra League expelled Ontora and the four activists for torturing and humiliating the female student.Based on the probe report submitted by Kushtia district administration on February 28, the High Court bench on March 1 asked the university to suspend the accused BCL leader and activists.The court also asked the vice-chancellor and registrar of the university to immediately remove Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall provost Shamsul Alam and house tutors Moumita Akhter and Ishrat Jahan for their alleged negligence that led to the ill-treatment of the victim.The IU authorities later suspended the five accused students from the university as well as removed Shamsul Alam as provost of Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall.The university authorities had also notified Ontora and her four associates asking them to submit their replies to the complaint in seven working days.The university administration also allocated a seat to the female student in Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall on her choice following the High Court order.

A total of 9,841candidates have passed the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) written examination. Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) published the results on Sunday. Read: School feeding programme to be launched in 150 upazilas soon: primary edu secretary The preliminary test of 43rd BCS was held on October 29, 2021 and some 15,229 candidates passed the examination. The written examination was held in 2022. Read: New textbooks to reach upazila level by November: Primary and Mass Education Secretary From the 43rd BCS, 1,814 cadres will be recruited.  Of them, 300 will be recruited in administration, 100 in police, 25 in Foreign Service , 843 in education, 35 in audit, 22 in information, 19 in taxation, 14 in customs and 19 in cooperatives cadre.  

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed on Saturday said that the school feeding programme will be launched in 150 upazilas of the country in a new way within a short time. He came up with the announcement while addressing the ‘National Dissemination Workshop’ on Findings & Factors of National Students Assessment-2022 organised by Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar. The secretary hoped that a new door will usher in the primary education sector through the school feeding and it will script a base for building a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. Read: New textbooks to reach upazila level by November: Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed said the children will be provided nutrition-rich biscuits along with other foods which will be attractive to them and play a special role in fulfilling demand and forming the body. Addressing the government’s initiatives to ensure quality education, he said dropping out the children from the school will reduce and enrollment of children will also increase through the school feeding. Read: State minister for Primary and Mass Education impressed with Walton’s progress Chaired by Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Director Shah Rezwan Hayat, DPE Additional Director General Dilip Kumar Banik, UNICEF’s Country Representative Sheldon Yett, UK High Commission Education Advisor Mohammad Golam Kibria, DPE Director Shahinoor Shaheen Khan among others spoke at the event. Read more: Improve quality of our education to keep pace with world: PM Hasina

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed on Thursday said textbooks of the next academic year will reach upazila level by November as they are committed to deliver books to all children on the first day of the new year. The minister announced this while speaking as the chief guest at a virtual workshop on the 2nd Annual Action Plan of USAID’s “Shobai Miley Shikhi” (Let's learn together) project in the morning. Also read: History & Social Science: Inquiry-based textbook for class 6, 7 withdrawn For the new academic year, the textbooks of class 2 and 3 have been prepared according to the revised curriculum. Meanwhile, students of 4th and 5th grade will get new textbooks  based on a revised curriculum in the academic year of 2025. On the “Shobai Miley Shikhi” project, the Mass Education Secretary said,”The key to learning together is that no one will be left out or left behind, everyone will get equal opportunities, and will move forward continuously through collective efforts.” Also read: NCTB gives corrections for 9 mistakes in 3 textbooks of new curriculum He called for an action plan to develop children to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Presided over by Additional Director General of the Department of Primary Education Dilip Kumar Banik, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Additional Secretary of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Mosharraf Hossain, Supervisory Contracting Officer of USAID’s Bangladesh mission Andrew Holland, USAID’s Director of Education Sonjai Reynolds-Cooper, Director of Department of Primary Education Manish Chakma. Also read: Zafar Iqbal admits plagiarism charge in new textbook, expresses disappointment 

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.