United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has initiated an inquiry into long-standing incidents of abuse, sexual harassment, ragging, guest room torture, seat trading, and extortion that occurred on its campus over the past 15 years. These incidents took place during the tenure of the Awami League government. As part of this effort, the university administration has introduced a formal complaint process, available both online and offline, for students to report their grievances using designated forms. The offline complaint submission process was officially launched on Wednesday by BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. AK Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, who inaugurated a complaint dropbox in the administrative building. Starting October 10, students will also be able to file complaints through the university’s website. Students can report incidents dating back 15 years by submitting online forms, downloading and completing forms manually, or depositing them directly into dropboxes located at the administrative building, student affairs division, and central library. The university has assured that all complaints will be treated with confidentiality. Prof. Dr. Md. Asaduzzaman Sarker, Member Secretary of the Investigation Commission, said that appropriate punitive actions will be recommended if accusations are substantiated. Penalties could include expulsion or suspension for current students, while former students may face certificate cancellations and potential criminal charges depending on the severity of the offenses.

Speakers at a seminar discussed the opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in Russian universities with government scholarships, noting the favourable academic environment and affordable living costs in Russia. It was mentioned that selected students would only need to cover living expenses, which amount to approximately Tk 1-2 lakh per year, The seminar titled "Higher Education in Russia with Russian Government Scholarships for Bangladesh," was organised by the Cultural Department of the Russian Embassy in Bangladesh, at the Russian House in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi. Russia is offering the 'Russian Government Scholarships for the 2025-2026 Academic Year,' which will provide 124 scholarships to Bangladeshi students across various programmes, including Bachelor's, specialist, Master's, residency, and PhD degrees at Russian universities. Applications for the 2025 scholarships can be submitted from October 7, 2024, to January 15, 2025. "The quality of higher education in Russia is recognised worldwide," said Pavel Dvoychenkov, Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, during his welcome speech. Former Vice-Chancellor of Chandpur Science and Technology University, Prof Dr Md Nasim Akhtar, who completed his higher education in Russia, highlighted Russia’s technological advancements. "Bangladeshi students can gain top-quality education in Russia," he said. Bazlul Hasan Syed, the In-Charge of the Education Section at the Russian House, responded to various queries from the students. He stated that of the 124 available scholarships, 80 will be allocated for Bachelor's degrees and 25 for Master's degrees. "Students under this scholarship are exempt from tuition fees, but they must cover their living expenses, estimated at Tk 1-2 lakh per year," said Bazlul Hasan, adding that Madrasa students are also eligible to apply. Yasmeen Sultana, a Russian Language Course teacher at the Russian House in Dhaka, who studied in Russia in 1975, shared her experiences. "The quality of the education system and the learning environment in Russia is excellent," she noted. Antor Mahamudul Hashan, Senior Lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST MISIS) in Moscow participated via video conference, emphasising that Russian universities rank among the top globally. "Their curricula are internationally recognised, and degrees from Russian universities are valued worldwide," he said. He also mentioned that many Russian universities host job fairs where renowned companies recruit graduates. "The dormitories are of a good standard, and there are plenty of opportunities for recreational activities. Students can also gain practical experience during their studies in Russia," added Hashan. The seminar concluded with a video presentation showcasing the opportunities for higher education in Russia and the key features of the Russian Government Scholarships 2025.

North South University (NSU) has been ranked among the top five universities in Bangladesh, according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, said a press release of the university on Wednesday. The four other universities are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Daffodil International University, Jahangirnagar University, and Jashore University of Science and Technology, according to the latest rankings released on Wednesday. All political activities on Dhaka University campus prohibited till further notice These five universities are positioned within the 801-1000 range. The 2025 rankings included over 2,000 universities from 115 countries. A total of 17 Bangladeshi universities made it into this year’s rankings. Last year, NSU shared the top spot with three other universities from Bangladesh. Of those four, Jahangirnagar University and NSU continue to hold their top positions, while three new universities have joined them in this year's ranking. East West University celebrates World Pharmacists Day 2024 NSU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, expressed his gratitude for the achievement, stating, "This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment of every member of our community – students, faculty, staff, and alumni – and the leadership of the NSU Board of Trustees. We also extend our thanks to the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission, and other regulatory bodies for their support, as well as our fellow universities for their encouragement. NSU will continue its mission of developing future leaders, promoting innovation, and advancing higher education in Bangladesh." This recognition as one of Bangladesh’s top universities highlights NSU's potential to push boundaries and shape the future of education both nationally and globally, according to NSU release.

A section of the student body of Jagannath University is directly opposing a decision to install a mural of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia by the current university administration. Students have expressed opposition to any form of "cult worship" on campus, which they believe the mural represents. The university’s Public Relations Office has clarified in a statement that it is not a mural but a plaque featuring her image. On Tuesday at noon, a group of students held a press conference at the Jagannath University Shaheed Minar regarding the installation of the plaque and mural. During the press conference, they announced that if the university administration does not revoke the decision, they will begin a petition on Wednesday to gather signatures opposing the installation. They plan to submit this petition along with a formal complaint to the Education Advisor on Sunday. Additionally, they threatened to take more stringent measures if their demands are not met. In a written statement at the press conference, AKM Rakib, a student from the 13th batch of the Botany Department, said, “We have recently known that the university administration has decided to install an 11-foot-tall mural of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia on October 20, at the Jagannath University Day. However, the administration is instead following the path set by Hasina, who popularized the practice of installing murals for self-promotion. We believe the university administration is using this form of cult worship for political gain.” Among those present at the press conference were Farhad Hossain from the 13th batch of the English Department, Sorna Akter Ria from the 16th batch of the Public Administration Department, and Sifat Hasan Sakib from the 17th batch of the English Department. In response, Proctor Professor Dr. Muhammad Tajamul Haque said, “There will only be a small plaque in front of the administrative building, and it will not be a mural. If the person for whom the plaque is being installed were aware of the controversy, she would likely feel hurt herself.” Professor Dr. Roich Uddin, Coordinator of the Jagannath University Student Affairs Committee from the Islamic Studies Department, stated, “I am personally against the culture of murals. In our university, this will not be a mural, but simply a plaque featuring an image.”  

The results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations of 2024 will be published on October 15. Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar, chairman of Dhaka Education Board and head of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, told UNB on Monday afternoon. The results will be published around 11:00 am on the day, he said. “In the past, the Prime Minister would officially inaugurate the result-publication process. However, this time the chief adviser will not be doing so. Instead, the chairman of the relevant education board will announce the results,” Sarkar added. This year, the HSC and its equivalent exams began across the country except in Sylhet division on June 30. The exams in Sylhet division started on July 9 as the Ministry of Education deferred the board’s exams due to flooding. HSC results likely between October 15-1 7 After eight days of the exams, all exams scheduled for July 18 were postponed due to the situation created amid the quota reform movement. After that, the government postponed the exams three more times. Finally, after postponing all the exams, a new schedule was published starting from August 11. On August 24, the Ministry of Education decided to cancel all the remaining HSC exams. This decision came in response to demands from some students who stormed the secretariat on that day. The Education Ministry took the decision to evaluate the copies of those subjects the students appeared for the examinations this year. Govt approves publishing HSC results soon: Education Ministry Besides, the subject mapping method was followed for other subjects based on the SSC results. A total of 14,50,790 students from nine general Education Boards, Madrasha Board and Technical Board were expected to sit for the exams from 9,463 educational institutions at 2,275 centres across the country.  

Chittagong University (CU) has started all academic activities from Sunday after being closed for three months. This comes after CU authorities, for the first time in almost eight years, allocated seats in the university’s residential halls on September 29. The decision to reopen the university followed shortly after this arrangement. On Sunday, many departments held inauguration ceremonies for the new session, officially marking the start of academic activities. According to reports, classes and examinations at CU had been suspended since July 1 due to work abstention by teachers and officials demanding the cancellation of the pension scheme. Subsequently, on July 17, the university was declared closed in response to the quota reform movement, during which students were instructed to vacate the halls. After the government's fall on August 5, an emergency syndicate meeting was held on August 7 where it was decided to reopen the university. The residential halls were scheduled to open on August 18, and classes were set to resume on August 19. However, due to student protests, these decisions were postponed. As a result of the demands, Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Abu Taher, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Benu Kumar De, and Md. Sekander Chowdhury, along with the heads of 14 residential halls and the Director of Student Guidance, stepped down from their positions. On September 18, retired Professor Muhammad Yahya Akhtar from the Department of Political Science was appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor. It has been reported that CU has now successfully allocated seats in all its residential halls after a gap of seven years. While previous attempts under former Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shireen Akhtar had failed to allocate seats, the new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Yahya Akhtar, managed to resolve the issue within 17 days of taking office. He also initiated several other activities, including restarting classes and exams and implementing a clean campus initiative, demonstrating his administrative efficiency. Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin, CU’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration), said that the university did not have the luxury of time to thoroughly address the seat allocation process before resuming classes and exams. Therefore, they followed the old allocation policies. However, acknowledging the students' complaints, he assured that an inclusive seat allocation policy would be developed soon.

Wahiduddin Mahmud, adviser to the Ministry of Education, has expressed concern over the “unplanned nature” of the country’s education system, saying that while universities have been established across various districts, corresponding job opportunities have not been created. As a result, the nation is witnessing a significant increase in educated unemployment. The adviser made these remarks during a discussion held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium to commemorate World Teachers’ Day. "The celebration of World Teachers’ Day is meant to honor teachers. I extend my deepest respect to them," he said. The adviser emphasized that he willingly took on the responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and was not coerced into the role. Having dedicated his life to teaching, he accepted this position in the interim government. Family planning, not microcredit, drove women’s workforce participation in the 1980s: Adviser Wahiduddin He highlighted the pressing issue of the country's low revenue collection, which is currently below international standards. This financial constraint hampers proper investment in essential sectors such as education, health, and social security. He noted that reducing corruption in government spending could potentially allow for increased funding in these areas, although he acknowledged that significant changes would take time. The Education Adviser further discussed the challenges facing the school curriculum, emphasizing the need to integrate recent historical movements and the concept of nation-building into the curriculum. While he acknowledged that this inclusion could not be achieved in time for the next academic year due to the tight timeline for revising textbooks, he assured that it would be addressed in future updates. He also stressed the necessity of a well-planned national education policy and expressed hope that the next elected government would take steps in this direction. He proposed that each university should have a code of conduct for students and faculty, allowing institutions to develop their own guidelines based on their knowledge and circumstances. The event was chaired by Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Senior Secretary of the Ministry, and attended by Dr. Bidhann Ranjan Roy Poddar, Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Professor Dr. S.M.A. Faiz, Chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, and Dr. Susan Vize, Head of the UNESCO Dhaka Office.

The results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations of 2024 will be published any day between October 15-1 7. Dhaka Education Board Chairman and Inter-education board coordinating committee Chairman Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar told UNB over mobile phone on Thursday. This year, the HSC and its equivalent exams began across the country except in Sylhet division on June 30. The exams in Sylhet division started from July 9 as the Ministry of Education deferred the board’s exams due to flooding. After eight days of the exams, all exams scheduled for July 18 were postponed due to the situation created amid the quota reform movement. After that, the government postponed the exams three more times. Finally, after postponing all the exams, a new schedule was published starting from August 11. On August 24, the Ministry of Education decided to cancel all the remaining HSC exams. This decision came in response to demands from some students who stormed the  secretariat on that day. The Education Ministry took decision to evaluate the copies of those subjects the students appeared for the examinations this year. Besides, subject mapping method will be used for other subjects based on the SSC results. A total of 14,50,790 students from nine general Education Boards, Madrasha Board and Technical Board were expected to sit for the exams from 9,463 educational institutions at 2,275 centres across the country.

Some students of Dhaka University have protested the cancellation of the textbook revision committee and labeling Professor Samina Luthfa of Sociology Department of the university as ”anti-Islam”. A protest rally organized by general students took place at the foot of the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University on Monday. During the rally, students voiced their concerns over labeling Professor Samina Luthfa as being “anti-Islam”. Referring to her significant contributions to the student movement, they argued that such baseless labeling hinders efforts to create a non-discriminatory and just Bangladesh. The protest followed the recent cancellation of a textbook revision committee by the Ministry of Education, after objections from certain religious organizations regarding two of its members.

Dhaka University has formed a probe committee to investigate all the violent and unexpected incidents which happened in Between July 15 to August 5 within its campus. The members of the probe have been told to submit their findings within next 30 days. Professor Ikramul Haque, acting dean of the Law faculty, has been made the convener of the probe. The other members are Dr. Nadia Newaj Rimi of Management department, assistant proctor Sehrin Amin Bhuiyan. Deputy registrar of the University Ayub Ali has been made the secretary of the probe.