United News of Bangladesh

In an outburst that will strike some as more than a bit out of left field, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq has called on the government to shut down internet services in the country after 12am daily. While that may sound preposterous in this day and age, you know he is being serious because he was careful to add ‘special arrangements’ can be made for those who work with foreign companies from Bangladesh (outsourcing/freelancers). That would probably require some sort of licensing or permit for such individuals. Or maybe something like a ration card. The Liberation War Affairs minister, who isn’t immune to the occasional gaffe,  was speaking as the chief guest at the 74th founding anniversary of the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) at the DU campus Saturday. What vexes him is that students these days are glued to their mobile phones instead of their studies, he said. It seems the minister hasn’t caught up to the fact that a lot of people these days are actually studying on their phones, or tablets – whatever the device, the essential facility that they must use to get their studies done is the internet. Without it, we would probably have witnessed 2 years of rampant illiteracy the world over just recently. "I think, in the future, Bangladesh will become a talentless nation (if this trend goes on)," the minister added. Were the internet really such a bad place, what good would it even do to only ban it after midnight? Surely all the damage would already be done. Clearly the minister, who has a valiant record as a freedom fighter during the Liberation War, hasn’t really thought this through. He did end with an excellent suggestion though, for universities to ramp up their research output, or else risk being saddled down by a lack of expertise. But try and do that with restricted internet! (Anyone has a JSTOR password?) For the record, we can afford to take it lightly, because like so much else, this is one more ministerial pronouncement that is destined for the rubbish bin.    

The “Not strong enough" team representing Dhaka University was declared the champion of Asia Regional (Dhaka site) International Collegiate Programming Competition 2021, a prestigious global programming contest.   This was revealed at the closing ceremony of the ICPC Asia Dhaka Regional Contest 2021 at Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) in Mirpur on Saturday. “Potatoes” representing Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) was announced as the first runner-up, while “Cage DVDI” of Jahangirnagar University got the second runner-up position. This time, 640 contestants from 164 university-level programming teams of the country participated in the competition, organisers said. State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak was present as the chief guest on the occasion. "He said that BUBT is a problem solver and it will be established as a cashless, paperless and smart campus very soon. They have already developed three apps and an Internet of Things Lab will be set up here for further development." Later, the state minister handed over the prizes to the winners. Professor Dr. Mohammad Kaykobad, BUBT Trustee Board Chairman Abu Saleh, Presidency University VC Abul L Haq, ICPC Judge Shahriar Manzoor, Social Islami Bank Managing Director Zafar Alam, among others were present at the programme.    

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak today said they will launch the Japanese education method ‘Kumon’ in 300 ‘Schools of Future’ under the ICT division by next year and all Sheikh Russel Digital Labs by 2025 across the country. He said this while addressing an award giving ceremony – as chief guest – for winners of ‘Brac Kumon’ competition at Brac CDM in Savar. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki were present as special guests at the function where Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh, among others, also attended. Expressing his determination to build a better world for children, Palak inspired the competition’s winners through songs. Junior Cultural Affairs Minister Khalid said Japanese mathematician Toru Takoshi, father of the Kumon method, designed it to develop his son’s math skills in 1958 as he was weak in the subject. Read: ICT & Digital Technology to rule in new-look education system Listing several advantages of the method, he said some four million students of 60 countries across the world have been studying mathematics and English using the Kumon method. Thanking Brac, the world’s largest non-government organization (NGO), for their efforts to spread the method in the country, he said the NGO has been playing an important role to develop the country’s socio-economic condition. Ambassador Naoki in his speech said the method will be considered as a model in the days to come in building a skilled manpower in Bangladesh. Brac officials informed that they have already started the Kumon education method for underprivileged children in Haluaghat area of the port city of Chattogram.   At the function, a total of 330 winners under different categories of four BRAC schools were awarded the prizes.

At least 12 people were hurt as leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) "swooped" on a rally brought out by the Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad on the Dhaka University (DU) campus Friday in remembrance of Buet student Abrar Fahad. Abrar, a second-year student of the electrical and electronic engineering department of Buet (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) died on October 7, 2019, after he was mercilessly beaten by the university's Chhatra League men over his Facebook post criticising the government's deals with India. Today, the Chhatra League men attacked the protest rally at Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture organised to observe Abrar's third death anniversary. As the protest programme began, Chhatra League activists launched attacks from the university's Teacher-Student Centre, vandalised the chairs and public announcement system, tore off the posters and burned them. They also chased Chhatra Adhikar Parishad men towards Shahbagh, brandishing chairs and sticks. Read: BCL factional clash leaves eight injured at Chattogram College BCL Vice-President Mohin Uddin, Joint General Secretary Mahbub Khan, Organising Secretary Nazim Uddin, Private University Affairs Secretary Al Amin Rahman; deputy office affairs secretaries Shimul Khan, Abdur Rahim; Jahurul Haque Hall unit President Kamal Uddin Rana, General Secretary Rubel Hossain, and other leaders and activists of the ruling party's student wing carried out the attack, reports our DU correspondent. The clash left over a dozen injured from Chhatra Odhikar and Chhatra League and they were rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where another brawl broke out. Zahid Ahsan, library secretary of the DU Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, and Chhatra League Central Committee Organising Secretary Nazim Uddin were among the injured. Bin Yamin Mollah, president of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, told UNB that the BCL men injured 12 of their activists during a "peaceful programme," without any provocation. "As I went to see them at Dhaka Medical college hospital, BCL again attacked us." BCL Joint General Secretary Mahbub Khan said Chhatra Odhikar Parishad leaders and activists were holding the programme with outsiders and fundamentalists on the DU campus. "When we asked them whether they were university students, they attacked us. Later, the university's students stopped them."

Every year a huge number of students move abroad for the purpose of higher studies. Among these departing students, a significant percentage are undergraduate students. The prospect of better education, lifestyle, security, and potential career are some of the key drivers for the outbounds.  Even several decades ago students only from financially well-off families could afford the high cost of education abroad. However, in recent years, students from middle and lower-middle-class families are also traveling abroad for higher studies. Scopes like Scholarships, low tuition fees, or tuition-free waivers have opened the door for many students to study in overseas countries.  With that in mind, we focused on the best countries around the world to study bachelor degree. Read along if you’re planning on studying your undergraduate abroad. Read Top European Countries Offering Free Education for International Students Top 7 Countries for Undergraduate Studies in 2023 The countries in this list are in no particular order. Each country has its own offerings and requirements. So rather than looking at a countdown, go for the countries that best match your needs and abilities. Almost every country mentioned in this list requires at least 12 years of formal education unless mentioned otherwise. United States of America The first country on the list is the land of the free and American Dreams. Currently, about 1 Million international students are studying in the USA. A large share of these students is pursuing their bachelor's in different branches like Business, Data Analytics, Engineering, and other STEM opportunities. The primary requirement for admission to a bachelor's program in the USA is to clear the SAT. After that, a student can choose their desired stream based on application and offer letters. The average tuition fee per year is $ 45,000 or 45,41,481 BDT (1 USD = 100.98 BDT). Read Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies However, there are a host of scholarships along with campus job opportunities. After graduation, the STEM OPT extension process allows students to get 1 whole year for job searching to settle in the USA. As a whole, the USA is an excellent destination for higher studies given the cosmopolitan nature of its cities. United Kingdom The UK is home to nearly half a million international students and half of them are enrolled in undergraduate courses. By volume, the UK houses 11% of the total international students across the globe in its multitude of colleges and universities. The country has been flourishing in education for several centuries now. It has always attracted students from all corners of the world because of the quality and global acceptance of a UK degree. Read Studying Abroad: Major Pros and Cons You Need to Consider The average tuition fee in the UK is relatively high compared to other European countries. Expect to pay anywhere between 11,000 euro or 10,70,763 BDT to 67,000 euro or 65,21,920 BDT per year depending on programs and streams. Living cost is also very high with an average starting at around 1000 euro or 99,340 BDT per month (1 Euro= 99.34 taka). However, the UK also offers a good number of scholarships at the undergraduate level. There are also ample part-time job opportunities with a secured career track after graduation. Read How to Pick a College or University Abroad for Higher Education Australia There has been a recent surge in Bangladeshi outbounds to Australia, especially at the undergraduate level. There are nearly 850,000 international students studying in Australia. A lion’s share of these students is studying at the bachelor's level.  To apply to an Australian university, students will have to submit required scores at IELTS/TOEFL as proof of English proficiency. The other requirements depend on specific subject bases admission requirements. Business, science, management, and other STEM streams are popular choices for international students. Average tuition fee ranges from 20,000 to 45,000 AUD which is equivalent to 13,10,078 BDT to 29,47,676 BDT (1 AUD = 65.50 BDT). Read Study in Australia: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students In Australia, the overall living cost is around 20,000 AUD per year which can be managed through part-time work opportunities. After graduation, a student can easily settle in Australia  if s/he can manage a full-time job relevant to his/her stream. Germany Are you looking for a country where standard education is offered at a low or no tuition fee? If yes, choose Germany. German Universities are known for their engineering stream majors as they are some of the best in the world. In recent years, Germany has become a prospective destination for bachelor's degrees for international students.  The 16 states of Germany eliminated undergraduate tuition costs at all public German institutions in 2014. Therefore, both domestic and foreign undergraduates presently have access to free education at public institutions in Germany, with only a nominal fee per semester to cover administrative and other costs. Read IELTS vs TOEFL: Which is better for studying abroad? To study for a bachelor's in Germany, a student will need two things besides the standard requirements – IELTS/TOEFL score and German Language B2/C1 clearance. A bachelor's degree in Germany requires the student to finish at least 1 year of an undergraduate degree in their home country after the usual 12 years of schooling. Besides these, the requirements are international. Germany also requires a block account for tuition and living cost purposes. Currently, the amount is 10,332 euros (10,26,413 taka) which is subject to change. Every month, a portion of the money will be given back to the students for their living costs. However, students can easily manage part-time jobs once they settle in. Read IELTS Preparation: Best Online Free Resources, Mock Tests, and Guidelines for IELTS Academic and General However, private universities in Germany charge tuition fees. The average tuition fee is between 750 to 7500 euros or 74,507 to 74,50,731 BDT per semester (1 Euro= 99.34 taka). The living cost is also around 750 euros per month if you live in the city area. To know more about study opportunities in Germany, check out our detailed review. Denmark Those prospective bachelor's students who don’t want to show a lumpsum bank deposit or want to take a spouse with them can choose Denmark. This beautiful Schengen country allows students to reach Denmark by submitting tuition fees for the first semester only.  Study opportunities in Denmark have been on the rise as the country now consistently ranks on top of the best higher study destinations in the world. Read IELTS Practice Tests: 7 Full Free IELTS Mock Tests to Take Online Like Germany, for admission to a bachelor's degree, Denmark requires the student to complete 13 years of education. So, Bangladeshi students must study for at least 1 year for an undergraduate degree in the home country in addition to the standard 12 years of education.  Tuition fee ranges from 6000 euro or 5,84,052 BDT  to 12,000 euros or 11,68,105 BDT per year depending on programs. Denmark has a low living cost between 600 euros (58,405 BDT) to 800 euros (77,873 BDT). There are also scopes for some scholarships for international students. Moreover, students get part-time work opportunities to support their education and living costs. Read TOEFL Preparation: Best Free Online Resources, Guidelines, and Mock Test Opportunities To know more about studying in Denmark, check out our comprehensive take on the country. Spain Spain is often termed the ever-sunshine country of Europe. The temperate climate, beautiful cities, and rich cultural history make Spain a lucrative destination for many. Students coming to Spain are mainly concentrated in the Business and Arts stream. But recently, the country is pushing STEM education for international students with generous offers. The best thing about bachelor's in Spain is the world-class education and relatively cheaper tuition fees. A non-EU student needs to pay about 650 to 2100 euros per year for a bachelor's program depending on the stream. The amount roughly translates to about 63,271 to 2,04,481 BDT (1 EUR = 97.82 BDT). Read TOEFL Practice Tests: 7 Full Free TOEFL Mock Tests to Take Online The living cost is also moderate. Students can easily get by with around 650 to 800 euros almost anywhere in Spain. Low living costs combined with high minimum wage and work opportunities for students easily make Spain a top choice for a bachelor's abroad. Italy The country of Neapolitan pizza and la Dolce Vita, Italy is truly one of the most beautiful countries in the world. From the rivers of Venice to the chapels of Rome, the country exudes culture and heritage unlike any other. The common streams for foreign students in Italy are mostly concentrated between fine arts and applied sciences. These streams are offered in almost all the universities and also have the most scholarship opportunities. Read SoP for Higher Studies: How to write an unfailing Statement of Purpose? The average tuition fee at a government university in Italy is around 1000 euros or 97,820 BDT per year.  Combine that with an average 950 euro or 92,475 BDT living cost and you have a pretty sweet deal for yourself. Part-time jobs are abundant but it is capped at 20 hours per week. Even with that, a student will be easily able to support their living cost in any Italian city. To top it off, there are government and private scholarships at the bachelor's level making Italy another potential outbound destination. Final Words Many meritorious student in Bangladesh dream to study at a prestigious university abroad. Compared with master's and Ph.D. programs, there are fewer support and scholarship opportunities for international students in the bachelor's degree programs. However, the situation is now changing as more and more developed countries are offering scholarships and tuition fee waivers to prospective international students. Read What should Bangladeshi students pack and bring with them to Western Countries? The key here is to figure out which country aligns with personal interest as well as study stream. There is also the potential settlement aspect after graduation. So far, we have discussed the top countries for studying a bachelor's program abroad. All in all, the countries on this list are probably the best bet when it comes to quality education. Hope it helps!

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, more popularly known as ULAB, celebrated its 18th Foundation Day on Saturday at its permanent campusMohammadpur in the capital. Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud joined the foundation day celebration as the chief guest. The event started with a presentation of the ULAB theme song, followed by the welcome speech of Dr Kazi Anis Ahmed, Vice-president of the ULAB Board of Trustees. The Information Minister praised the green campus and thanked the ULAB authority for thinking differently in terms of designing its academic curriculum. “While other universities are focused on market demands, ULAB is trying to promote humanitarianism through their curriculum,” the Minister said in his speech. Expressing his admiration for the green campus of ULAB, the Minister said that ULAB was established with a different mindset. “While others are giving importance to the market demand, ULAB has designed the curriculum keeping in mind the social and humanitarian aspects. In this regard, ULAB is an exceptional institution,” he added. Quoting the words of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, he said to the students that it is not enough to just dream, buone has to work hard to chase after the dream to become successful.

No question paper of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams was leaked this year, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Saturday. “No question paper of SSC exams was leaked in the last four years,” she added. The minister told this to local journalists after attending a programme on social harmony in Chandpur sadar upazila. However, She said what happened in Dinajpur is regrettable. Read: DU Journalism department celebrates Diamond Jubilee “Secretary of an examination centre took packets containing question papers of different subjects together. A probe is underway to identify the reason behind it and the centre secretary-headmaster has been suspended,” said the education minister. Legal action will be taken against him, she said. On September 21, SSC examinations on four subjects under the Dinajpur Education Board were postponed as questions of English 1st paper and 2nd paper of the ongoing SSC exams went viral on Facebook and WhatsApp.Dinajpur Board also formed a three-member probe committee headed by Prof Faraz Uddin Talukdar, college inspector of the Education Board. Earlier on September 20, three school teachers, including Lutfur Rahman, the headmaster and secretary of Bhurungamari Nehal Uddin Pilot High School centre, and two assistant teachers of the school – Zubaiyer Hossain and Aminur Rahman – were arrested in this connection.  

The Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on Wednesday.Vice-Chancellor Dr Md. Akhtaruzzaman joined the programme as the chief guest at the Prof. Mozaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium on 28th September 2022. After the inauguration of the programme, he opened various programs of the department which will be activated throughout the year on this occasion.Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Professor Dr Abul Mansoor Ahmed presided over the opening ceremony, while renowned journalist of the country Abed Khan and Dhaka University Social Science Faculty Dean Prof. Dr Zia Rahman spoke as a special guest. Associate Professor Shabnam Azim and prof Robayet Ferdous conducted the program. Editors and heads from different media houses also joined the program.Professor Akhtaruzzaman emphasized strengthening academia-industry relationships to produce skilled and up-to-date graduates and said that industry suggestions and recommendations will be accepted in increasing the efficiency and quality of graduates. He called upon the graduates of Dhaka University to play an effective role in meeting the needs of society and the nation. "The media of the country will work as a supporting force in the development of the overall education and research of Dhaka University including journalism education," he added. After the opening ceremony, a round table meeting on 'Interaction and Interdependence between Academia and Industry' was held. Famous people from the media industry participated in this meeting.

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Wednesday suspended its seven students for up to two years on charges of "sexual harassment." The decision came at the 226th syndicate meeting of the university with its Vice-Chancellor Professor Farid Uddin Ahmed in the chair, SUST said in a media statement Wednesday. Read: SUST students suspend movement after meeting with ministers Sumon Das of public administration, Syed Mustakim Sakib of mechanical engineering; Md Imam Hossain Imran, Md Rifat Hossain and Md Bishal Ali have of forestry and environment sciences been suspended for one year each, Md Ariful Islam and Md Jayed Iqbal Tanim of forestry and environment sciences for two years, respectively. The suspension will be effective from Thursday, and the suspended students will not be able to enter the campus, SUST said.

At least seven activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal(JCD) were injured in at attack allegedly by Chhatra League (BCL) men on Dhaka University campus on Tuesday. Some activists of BCL attacked JCD activists when they tried to enter the campus through "Gonotontro O Mukti Toron" gate at Nilkhet point to submit a memorandum to the VC on various problems of the university and different dormitories, said witnesses.