United News of Bangladesh

The Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) election has been stayed for the second time, with authorities now setting September 11 as the new date. The announcement came early Friday following a 10-hour meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Kamarul Ahsan, which continued till 4:30am beginning at 7:30 pm on Thursday. At the meeting, students questioned the administration over the delays accusing them of deliberately postponing the election. The administration was also criticised for not taking disciplinary action against the accused in the July uprising In response, the VC sought additional time to complete the judicial process and, after discussions with university officials, announced a revised roadmap for both the disciplinary measures (against accused) and the JUCSU polls. According to the new plan, final verdicts regarding the temporarily suspended Chhatra League members involved in the July attack will be delivered by August 4, with the election schedule to be announced the same day. Final action against faculty members allegedly linked to the attack will be taken by August 31. JUCSU election set for July 31, army to be deployed if needed A new election commission will also be formed as the previous commission has been dissolved following the postponement. The administration said that a fresh election schedule will be announced on August 20, with voting to take place on September 11. In a reaction, Arifuzzaman Uzzal, convenor of the university unit of Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council, said, "The university administration has repeatedly tried to link justice for the July uprising attackers with the JUCSU election. The polls have been deferred several times already, and now it's been delayed again." “Still, we want to place our trust in this administration one last time,” he added. “We hope they will not betray the students like the authoritarian administration of the past.” Previously, the elections were scheduled for May 21 and July 31 but were postponed on both occasions.

The authorities at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) expelled three female students from the university’s Taposhi Rabeya Hall over allegations of ragging. The accused, all from the Faculty of Agriculture, were handed the penalty in line with Section-7 of the university's ‘Ordinance for Student Discipline.’ According to a notice signed by acting Registrar Md Helal Uddin on Thursday night, accused Maria Sultana Mim was suspended from the hall for one year. Dhaka-Mymensingh rail communication resumes after BAU students lift blockade Two other accused Zubaida Jannat Soha and Ashika Rushda, from the same faculty, were suspended for six months each. The victim is a first-year student from the faculty. Prof Israt Jahan Shelly, provost of the hall, said, “We have received the official order, and it will be served to the accused students soon. No injustice will be tolerated on campus. Ragging is a clear offense. I have submitted all evidence to the vice-chancellor, who maintains a strict stance against wrongdoing.”

The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations under nine education boards will begin on Thursday amid tight security. This year, 1,251,111 students from general, technical and madrasa education streams are expected to take part in the exams at 2,797 centres across the country. The number of candidates has decreased by 81,882 compared to last year. The Ministry of Education has ordered all coaching centres across the country to remain closed until August 15 to ensure a proper exam environment. Several instructions have been issued for the exams: Students must enter the exam halls at least 30 minutes before the exam starts. If a student arrives late for any valid reason, the cause of delay, along with the student's name, roll number, and entry time, must be recorded and reported to the respective education board on the same day. The question paper code will be sent to authorised officials via SMS 25 minutes before the exam begins. HSC exams set to begin June 26: Detailed instructions published No one except the centre-in-charge can carry mobile phones or electronic devices inside the exam centre. The centre-in-charge may carry a mobile phone, but it must be a non-camera device. The Inter-Education Board has also issued the following instructions: ·         Students must be present at the centre at least 30 minutes before the exam begins. ·         Information on the OMR sheet must be filled out correctly. ·         Answer scripts must not be folded. ·         Mobile phones are not allowed inside the exam centres. ·         The multiple-choice and creative sections will be held one after another without a break. ·         Students must pass both theory and practical parts separately. ·         Students can only sit for the subjects listed on their admit cards and cannot take exams at their own institutions. ·         Attendance sheets must be signed. Law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and local administrations have been asked to stay alert during the exams. Monitoring of social media platforms will also be increased to prevent irregularities.

Dhaka University on Tuesday unveiled a budget of Tk 1,035 crore 45 lakh for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The University Grants Commission (UGC) will provide Tk 883 crore 4 lakh, while Tk 90 crore will come from the university's own income, leaving a deficit of Tk62 crore 41 lakh. DU Treasurer Prof. M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury explained various aspects of the budget at a press conference. Earlier, on June 16, the budget was approved in the university’s syndicate meeting. In the 2025–26 fiscal year, Tk 293 crore 50 lakh (28.34%) of the total budget has been allocated for salaries; Tk 285 crore 98 lakh (27.62%) for goods and services; Tk 215 crore 91 lakh 43 thousand (20.84%) for various allowances; and Tk139 crore 86 lakh 50 thousand (13.41%) for pensions. Bulk of social assistance to be distributed through digital cash transfer under FY26 budget Meanwhile, in the 2024–25 fiscal year, Tk 20 crore 7 lakh was allocated for research. This time, it has been slightly increased to Tk 21 crore 57 lakh, which is only 2.8% of the total budget. Regarding the research budget, the treasurer said, "Dhaka University does not have freedom in budget formulation. A fixed amount is allocated from the University Grants Commission, and we cannot go beyond that." "A discussion was held before with the chief adviser regarding the research sector. He told us to submit this as a proposal," he said. Usually, after the syndicate meeting approves the budget, it is finally passed in the university's annual senate session. However, this time there has been an exception in holding the senate session.

East West University (EWU) welcomed around 2,200 newly admitted students through its comprehensive Orientation Program for the Summer Semester 2025 on Wednesday at its campus in the capital’s Aftabnagar. Each academic department organised separate orientation sessions tailored to their respective fields. These departmental programmes provided detailed information about academic guidelines, course structure, faculty introductions, university rules and regulations, and support services. Professor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, EWU, and Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank; Professor Dr Shams Rahman, Vice Chancellor of EWU; Professor Dr Mohammad Ashik Mosaddik, Pro-Vice Chancellor; and Air Cdre (Retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Chowdhury, Treasurer of EWU, joined the orientation ceremony. Also in attendance were Deans of the Faculties, Chairpersons, faculty members, and administrative officials. Govt to formulate concrete action plan to protect Sundarbans: Rizwana The speakers at the event advised the newly admitted students to focus on becoming skilled human resources in this era of advanced artificial intelligence. They also urged the students to stand by the country and its people during times of crisis. Adding vibrancy to the day, the Department of Student Welfare of EWU organised a colourful Club Fair to showcase 22 student-run clubs. Each club set up stalls to display their activities and initiatives, encouraging freshers to participate in co-curricular engagements alongside their academic journey. East West University was launched in 1996 with 6 faculty members and 20 students on its previous campus.  Currently, there are over 434 faculty members and more than 10,500 students.

Dhaka University has appointed Professor Mohammad Zashim Uddin of the Department of Botanyas the Chief Returning Officer for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election. The appointment was made under Section 8(F) of the DUCSU constitution by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan and was approved during the university's syndicate meeting on Monday, according to a press release issued by the DU public relations office. In addition, nine other returning officers have been appointed to assist the Chief Returning Officer in overseeing the electoral process. They are Prof. ASM Mohiuddin of the Soil, Water, and Environment Department; Prof. Golam Rabbani of the Institute of Social Welfare and Research; Prof. Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq of the Department of Information Science and Library Management; Prof. Kazi Maruful Islam of Development Studies; Prof. Nasrin Sultana of the Institute of Health Economics; Prof. Md Shahidul Islam Zahid of Banking and Insurance; Prof. Tariq Manzoor of Bangla; Prof. SM Shameem Reza of Mass Communication and Journalism; and Associate Prof. Sharmin Kabir of the Institute of Education and Research. These returning officers will determine the next steps for conducting the election in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor and will oversee the process moving forward. Earlier, the DUCSU election was overseen by a six-member election commission, but this time, the number of members has been increased to a maximum of ten to ensure greater transparency, acceptability, and overall support for the electoral process.

The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia are set to introduce two new departments under the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies from the upcoming 2025–26 academic session. The two new departments are Comparative Tafsir and As-Sirah An-Nabawiyyah. The decision was initially approved during the university’s 130th academic council meeting held on the campus in Kushtia. It was later ratified in the Syndicate meeting on May 31. Ex-JUST VC lands in jail Professor Dr. ABM Siddiqur Rahman Ashrafi, Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, said that the introduction of the two departments aligns with current academic and social demands. "We expect to commence activities under both departments in the 2025–26 academic year." Necessary preparations are already underway to ensure a smooth launch of academic programs and infrastructure to support the new departments, he added.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday proposed to allocate Tk 110,657 crore for education and technology sector in the national budget for FY 2025-26, which is almost the same as in the outgoing fiscal year. The allocation for this sector was Tk 111,158 crore in the national budget for FY 2024-25 passed in June 2024. The finance advisor on Monday afternoon unveiled the national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year through the state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. The allocation for the education and technology sector is 14 percent of the national budget for the FY 2025-26. Tk 2,956 crore allocated for Election Commission in proposed budget Out of Tk Tk 110,657 crore, Tk 35,403 crore was allocated for the Primary and Mass Education Ministry, Tk 47,563 crore for the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Tk 12,869 crore for the Science and Technology Ministry, Tk 2,144 crore for ICT Division, and Tk 12,678 for Technical and Madrasa Education Division. The Finance Adviser in his budget speech said there is no alternative to science, technology or technical education to build a strong economic structure. “This year’s budget has given special priority to creating the environment for a science-based, technology-driven and employment-oriented education,” he said.

The online General Diary (GD) service has officially been launched across all police stations under the Sylhet Range, marking another step in Bangladesh Police’s ongoing efforts to simplify and digitalise public services. Implemented on Sunday following directives from the chief adviser, the initiative allows citizens to file all types of GDs from home, eliminating the need to physically visit a police station. According to a media release from the Police Headquarters, the online GD service is already in operation under Sylhet Metropolitan Police, Chattogram Metropolitan Police and all police stations within the Chattogram Range. Earlier, only GDs related to the loss or recovery of items could be submitted online. With the latest rollout, residents of all districts within the Sylhet Range can now file any category of GD online. Online GD service to be launched in Ctg The service is expected to be introduced in other ranges and metropolitan areas in phases, the media release added. To use the service, users must download the ‘Online GD’ app from the Google Play Store and complete a one-time registration. For any issues during registration or submission, citizens can contact the 24/7 hotline at 01320001428 for support. Bangladesh Police remains committed to delivering prompt and accessible services to the doorsteps of citizens.

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has announced a 21-day break in celebration of Eid-ul-Azha and the summer vacation. According to an official notification issued by the university's registrar on Sunday, all classes will remain suspended from May 25 to June 12. The vacation period will be extended by two days due to Fridays and Saturdays on June 13 and 14. However, university offices will remain open from May 25 to 27. The university community and students are advised to plan accordingly for the upcoming holiday break.