Education
JnU, KU signs MoU to enhance education and research sectors
Jagannath University (JnU) and Khulna University (KU) will work together in the education and research sectors.
For this, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two universities on Wednesday at Khulna University Vice-Chancellor's office.
Jagannath University Registrar Engineer Md. Ohiduzzaman and Khulna University Treasurer Professor Amit Roy Chowdhury signed the MoU on behalf of the universities.
After the signing of the MoU, it was handed over to both parties in the presence of Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim and Khulna University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mahmud Hossain.
Prof. Dr Sadeka Halim said, “All our teachers and students who need high-quality labs and modern technology for their research activities can now use Khulna University’s lab and their technology. This agreement will play an important role in education and research for both universities.”
Shooting student in classroom: Class boycott programme at Sirajganj medical college withdrawn
Students of Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College in Sirajganj on Wednesday withdrew their class boycott and sit-in programme following the suspension of Community Medicine department teacher Dr Raihan Sharif for shooting a student in a classroom.However, the students will continue their other protest programmes including protest meetings, rallies until accused teacher Dr Raihan Sharif gets exemplary punishment.
Shooting student in classroom: Sirajganj medical college lecturer suspendedOn Wednesday morning, the students started a human chain and sit-in programme on the college campus boycotting classes.
However, they withdrew from the programme following the intervention of the police and college administration.
Shooting student in classroom: Sirajganj medical college lecturer sent to jailThe students told reporters that following the assurance of the college administration and the temporary suspension of the accused teacher, Raihan Sharif, the class boycott programme was withdrawn. They will resume classes as usual on Thursday.College principal Dr Amirul Hossain Chowdhury said as the health department has already suspended the teacher, the students have also withdrawn their class boycott programme.
Teacher sued over shooting medical student in Sirajganj
Prof Atiqul Islam reappointed as NSU VC
Prof Atiqul Islam has been reappointed as the vice chancellor of North South Universit President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
The official notification was issued on Sunday, by the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Education, according to a press releaee on Tuesday.
Atiqul will continue to serve as NSU VC till February, 22, 2028. He previously assumed the role of vice chancellor in 2016 and was re-appointed in February 2020.
Medical student shot by teacher in classroom in Sirajganj
Prof Atiqul extended his thanks to the president, prime minister, education minister, Bangladesh University Grants Commission, and the Board of Trustees of North South University.
While thanking the president, Atiqul said, "I am deeply humbled by the trust bestowed upon me by the His Excellency President.”
He further acknowledged the enduring support and guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said, "I am sincerely grateful to the honourable Prime Minister. Her unwavering support for North South University always inspired us to work to achieve excellence for this institution. Our faculty members, students, and NSU family are grateful to the honourable Prime Minister for her compassionate guidance.”
“Personally, I am thankful to our PM for trusting me with the leadership of NSU,” he added.
NSU achieved consistent academic excellence under Atiqul’s leadership. As a result, in the latest World University Ranking 2023 by Times Higher Education, NSU ranks between 601-800, the highest among all universities in Bangladesh. Additionally, NSU leads among private universities in Bangladesh in the QS World University Ranking, the release said.
Prior to his tenure at North South University, Atiqul served in various leadership positions, including Executive Dean and Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) of the Faculty of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University in Australia.
Two separate bodies formed over allegations against Prof Naadir
With roots as a lecturer at Dhaka University, Atiqul includes notable roles at institutions such as the University of Sydney, Curtin University, Canterbury University, and the National University of Singapore.
Throughout his career, he held significant administrative roles, including Head of the School of Commerce at the University of South Australia and Dean of the Faculty of Business and Government at the University of Canberra.
His contributions extend beyond administrative roles; he has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly articles, served as an editor for a prestigious business journal, reviewed research funding proposals and journals, supervised postgraduate theses, and presented at international research conferences. His dedication to academia and wealth of expertise makes him a respected figure in the academic community, the also said.
School principal's research suggests Bangladesh needs better teachers
As there are complaints about delivery of engaging lessons in Bangladeshi schools, research shows, very few teachers in the country are skilled in teaching in accordance with each student’s learning pace and style.
However, in the research paper on ‘Teacher Effectiveness’ presented at a recent global conference in South Africa, Principal of DPS STS School Dhaka Dr Shivananda CS noted that schools can offer actionable feedback promoting teachers' fast-paced development with objective lesson observation criteria.
“More highly skilled and trained teachers are needed in Bangladesh. Many schools often complain about needing a pool of trained and skilled teachers to deliver engaging lessons,” he stated. “I hope the research findings will help my fellow peers discover more about teacher effectiveness and help augment teaching quality.”
Dr Shivananda is the sole educator from the country to present a paper in the “Schools Now!” conference, organised by the British Council, in Cape Town, to promote innovations in teaching and learning and share experience among its partner schools.
Highlighting the need for what is called ‘learning differentiation’ to achieve high learning outcomes, the research has observed that ‘very few teachers’ are accustomed to the customised teaching-learning methods that allow each student to learn and grow uniquely.
It has further provided evidence of rapid skills development when schools set measurable goals for each teacher, if they receive customised training support.
In this context, Dr Shivananda pointed out that among their peers, there are teachers whose lesson delivery level exceeds a score of 4.5 out of 5.0 and who can also train their fellow teachers.
The research project, involving teachers of K-12 (kindergarten to 12th grade) schools, commenced in November 2020 and is reviewed annually considering the data gathered after more than 2,500 lesson observations.
Medical student shot by teacher in classroom in Sirajganj
A student of Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College in Sirajganj was shot with a gun by a teacher inside the classroom on Monday.
The student, Arafat Ashik Tomal, 23, was admitted to hospital. He is a resident of Dhansiri Nataipara Mahalla of Bogra district.
The teacher Dr Raihan Sadiq was detained by police after the incident, said Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sirajganj Sadar police station.
Quoting the students, he said, a class of third-year students of the medical college hospital was going on at around 3:30 pm on Monday.
In this class, the teacher reportedly threatened students with failing them in exams. Following that, a dispute started between the students and the teacher.
At one stage, the third-year student was shot in the leg.
Students protested in the Medical College Hospital and neighborhood area over the incident.
The college’s Principal Prof Dr Amirul Hossain Chowdhury couldn’t be reached over phone.
Meanwhile, additional riot police have been deployed and patrolling has been intensified in the neighborhood.
Two separate bodies formed over allegations against Prof Naadir
Two separate bodies have been formed to investigate two separate allegations of sexual harassment along with one of academic misdemeanor against DU Mass Communication and Journalism Professor Dr Naadir Junaid.
To conduct primary investigation on two separate allegations of sexual harassment, a three member fact finding committee was formed asking to submit report within 14 days, while another probe body was formed to investigate another allegation of academic misdemeanor against the same professor.
The committees were formed on Sunday at university’s Syndicate meeting, the highest policy making body, chaired by DU Vice Chancellor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal at university’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury senate building, a syndicate member told UNB. The fact finding committee over sexual harassment consists of DU law faculty dean Professor Shima Zaman as head of the body, Syndicate member Prof Md Masudur Rahman and university Assistant Proctor Sanchita Guha as member.
The other probe body, made to investigate the allegation of academic misdemeanor, consists of DU Pro-VC (Academic) Dr Sitesh Chandra Bachar as head of the body, Syndicate member and chairman of DU Mass Communication and Journalism department Prof. Dr Abul Mansur Ahmed and DU Exam Controller Bahalul Haque Choudhury as member.
On February 10, a female student of DU MCJ department lodged a written complain of sexual harassment with DU Proctor Dr Maksudur Rahman. On the following day, a complain of concealing sexual harassment allegation was lodged against Naadir by another student of the department.
Later, on February 28, a former student of a university, where Nadir appeared as guest teacher, filed another complain of sexual harassment against Naadir Junaid.
Earlier on February 07, postgraduate students of DU MCJ department filed a complaint alleging that Professor Naadir intentionally gave them unusually low grades in a course, acting out of personal vendetta and academic misconduct.
Soon after the complaints were filed, the students broke out in protest boycotting all kind of academic activities demanding the suspension of the accused professor and seeking justice.
However, amid the protest, the university authorities sent Naadir on forced leave on February 12.
Three lakh applications submitted for GST admission test
Admission test applications for students of the 2023-24 academic year of 24 universities under the GST (General Science and Technology) have ended. This time a total of 305,346 (3 lakh 5 thousand 346) applications have been submitted. Meanwhile, Jagannath University is at the top as the preferred examination center for students.
Convener of the technical committee of the GST admission test and vice-chancellor of Chandpur University of Science and Technology, Nasim Akhtar informed this on Saturday.
Vice-Chancellor Nasim Akhtar said, “The initial application process for the GST admission test for the academic year 2023-24 ended on February 27 at 11:59 pm. This time, a total of 3 lakh 5 thousand 346 applications have been submitted. Out of this, 1 lakh 70 thousand 599 applications have been submitted in the 'A' unit containing the science unit, 94 thousand 631 in the 'B' unit containing the humanities unit, and 40 thousand 116 applications in the 'C' unit containing the business education unit.”
He also said, “Among the applicants, 90 thousand 841 students chose Jagannath University as the center for taking the exam. Among them, 53 thousand 832 students in the 'A' unit, 19 thousand 770 students in the 'B' unit, 17 thousand 239 students in the 'C' unit will take the exam at Jagannath University Center. Which is about a third of the total applicants.”
Convener of GST integrated admission committee and vice-chancellor of Jessore University of Science and Technology, Md. Anwar Hossain said, “This year the application period has ended. The application period will not be extended again. Now we will start the next step.”
The admission test will be held on Saturday, April 27 (A Unit-Science), Friday, May 3 (B Unit-Humanities) and Friday, May 10 (C Unit-Commerce). The admission test for the 'A' unit will be held from 12 noon to 1 pm and the admission test for the other two units will be held from 11 am to 12 pm.
This time, out of 24 universities, admission test centers have been fixed in 22 universities. The committee also informed that the students will not be able to change the admission test center.
The 24 universities which are included in the GST are - Jagannath University (Dhaka), Islamic University (Kushtia), Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sylhet), Khulna University (Khulna), Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology (Dinajpur), Maulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology. (Tangail), Noakhali Science and Technology University (Noakhali), Comilla University (Comilla), Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (Mymensingh), Jessore Science and Technology University (Jessore), Begum Rokeya University (Rangpur), Pabna Science and Technology University (Pabna), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology (Gopalganj), Barisal University (Barisal), Rangamati University of Science and Technology (Rangamati), Rabindra University (Sirajganj), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University (Gazipur), Sheikh Hasina University (Netrokona), Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University of Science and Technology (Jamalpur), Patuakhali University of Science and Technology (Patuakhali), Kishoreganj University of Science and Technology (Kishoreganj), Chandpur University of Science and Technology (Chandpur), Sunamganj University of Science and Technology (Sunamganj) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology (Pirojpur).
Aga Khan Academy's commitment to quality education aligns with Smart Bangladesh vision
The Aga Khan Academy Dhaka wants to contribute to Bangladesh’s goal of a prosperous nation providing students with education of the highest standard in order to prepare them for the future and make a positive contribution in a changing world, the head of the Academy has said.
“We want to work together for a common goal, for the betterment of our people; and for a peaceful, rich and prosperous Bangladesh,” Suvina Shunglu, the new head of the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka, told UNB at her office recently.
The Academy, which is now in its second academic year, has a dream, said Suvina, who promotes a culture of quality education, diversity, and inclusion.
UNICEF, Japan join hands to improve well-being of children in Bhasan Char
“This dream has come to us from its founder – Aga Khan. We are here and the school is here to realize that dream,” she said, adding that the dream is to groom people who will respect each other and who will be pluralistic and accept differences and will work together for the common goal.
Suvina, who has worked in the field of education and school administration over the last 30 years, said they do not have academies in the United States or in Europe but they have such academies in developing countries.
BRAC University opens its new campus in Merul Badda
BRAC University unveiled its new campus through a “Meet and Greet with Media” event with the theme “The call of the future in the call of green”.
The event was held on the university’s new green campus located in Merul Badda which features environmental sustainability on Thursday.
Highlighting the university's commitment to academic excellence, cultural enrichment, and environmental conservation, various aspects of BRAC University's dedication to environmental sustainability were showcased during the event. The university also shared its aspiration to lead in providing a comprehensive educational experience by engaging in environmentally friendly initiatives, showcasing local performances, and fostering discussions on pertinent issues.
In this “Meet and Greet with Media” event, Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, BRAC University, along with other members of the Board of Trustees, Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Acting Vice-Chancellor, deans of schools, department chairpersons, and journalists from various media outlets were present.
Covering 7 acres of land in Merul Badda, this expansive BRAC University campus is the first environmentally friendly and sustainable advanced city campus in Bangladesh. Inspired by the ecosystem of the Sundarbans, the campus has been constructed to offer a blend of nature and architecture. The design, construction, and environmental aspects of this building involve experts from various countries, including Singapore, China, and Germany, contributing to its various unique features.
The building utilizes modern technologies such as cross-ventilation and hybrid thermal management systems, allowing light and air to enter from all sides. The use of Aerodynamic Fins ensures the optimal flow of air within the building.
The greenery, resembling a green carpet on the building's facade, provides oxygen, and the hybrid cooling system brings fresh air into the classrooms. As a result, even if students sit for long hours in class, fatigue will be minimized. These features contribute to reduced dependency on air conditioning, leading to the building's 40% energy self-sufficiency.
Numerous rain chains have been installed to allow rainwater to reach trees and vegetation within the building and use the excess to replenish water bodies on the ground floor. The building also houses an advanced sewage treatment plant for waste management.
On the roof, there are solar panels generating 1.5 megawatts of electricity, providing 25% of the energy required for the building. The majority of the space in this modern and aesthetic building has been kept open for the students. In these open spaces, they can engage in mutual interactions and participate in various extracurricular activities. The campus is designed with universal accessibility so that students with special needs can easily access the campus and move around all areas comfortably.
Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, BRAC University, shared the inspiring story behind the construction of the university's new eco-friendly campus and the educational philosophy of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. She said, "Sir Fazle's vision was to establish a university where learning and pedagogy would flourish while coexisting with nature. The new campus is designed to combine nature and modern architecture to inspire future generations to think differently about life. While urbanization is an inevitable consequence of development, we must discover innovative solutions to safeguard nature. This new campus will serve as a benchmark for students and professionals in urban planning and environmental conservation."
BRAC University's new campus is envisioned to serve as a laboratory for knowledge and science, as expressed by Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Acting Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University. He states, "Essentially, we want to establish this new campus of BRAC University as a hub for knowledge and science. Our aspiration is to make this university a flagship institution in Bangladesh through ethical research and the provision of high-quality education. We are working towards that goal."
At the conclusion of the event, the closing remarks were delivered by Salahdin Imam, a member of BRAC University's Board of Trustees and the Chair of the Campus Development Committee. The event was hosted by Khairul Basher, the Director of the Office of Communications, BRAC University.
Following the program, invited journalists were given a tour of BRAC University's new campus by Ariful Islam, Chief Financial Officer of BRAC University, Sajedul Karim Chowdhury, Director of Operations of BRAC University, and Shafiqul Islam, Architect of the BRAC University campus project.
JnU student Khadija exempted from all two DSA cases
Jagannath University (JnU) student Khadijatul Kubra, who was released from Kashimpur Women's Jail in November last year after over 14 months of her arrest, was discharged from another case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) at New Market police station.
Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge AM Zulfikar Hayat's Court passed the order on Thursday as the court did not find any element in the case to frame charges against her.
East West University hosts 23rd Convocation
With this, she has been discharged from all the two cases filed against her under the DSA.
However, the court ordered reinvestigating the allegation against retired Major Delowar Hossain, another accused in the case.
Earlier on January 28, Khadijatul Kubra was discharged from a case filed under the Digital Security Act at Kalabagan police station in the capital.
In October 2020, police filed two cases against Khadija and retired Maj Delowar Hossain at the Kalabagan and New Market Police Stations for 'spreading anti-government propaganda and harming Bangladesh's reputation.'
Police arrested Khadija on September 17, 2022.
Khadija finally walked out of jail on Noveber 20, 2023, after securing bail from the Supreme Court.
According to the case details, Khadija and Delowar conspired to broadcast false, fabricated, and defamatory propaganda about the prime minister, various government agencies, and senior state officials in order to oust the country's legitimate administration. They were aiming to destroy communal harmony through their conspiracy by promoting enmity, hatred, and division among various communities, it said.
BUET admission 2023-24: pre-selection test held
Khadija was 17 when the cases were filed under the Digital Security Act in 2020, but the case was filed showing her as an adult, according to her lawyer.
Despite having kidney disease, Khadija's bail petitions were repeatedly denied by a Dhaka court.