United News of Bangladesh

The 13th International Conference on Restructuring of the Global Economy (ROGE) concluded on August 6 at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. The conference, jointly hosted by the Centre for Business and Economic Research (CBER) and the Future University in Egypt, attracted over 120 participants from 25 countries, showcasing its growing significance on the international stage. Held from August 5-6, 2024, the event focused on promoting sustainability and fostering discussions on global economic restructuring. A standout moment of the conference was the keynote address by Rear Admiral Dr. Muhammad Musa, Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Bangladesh. His presentation, titled "Sustainable Ocean Economy: Bangladesh's Journey on the Roadmap to a Blue Economy," spotlighted Bangladesh's innovative strides in the sustainable use of its maritime resources. Dr. Musa emphasized the importance of balancing economic growth with marine conservation, stating, "For a maritime nation like Bangladesh, harnessing the potential of its 'Blue Economy' is of paramount importance. This economic growth must align with the preservation of the marine environment." Dr. Musa's address received widespread acclaim, with participants praising his forward-thinking approach to integrating sustainable practices in the global maritime industry. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the prestigious Honorary Fellowship Award from the Centre for Business and Economic Research, celebrating his leadership in advancing maritime sustainability. The conference featured prominent figures from academia and industry, including Prof. Marianne W. Lewis from the University of Cincinnati, Prof. David M. J. Graves from the UK Centre of Study for Organised Crime, and Dr. David Holliman from the University of Buckingham. Discussions covered a broad spectrum of topics, from corporate governance and global business to the challenges of globalization and the implications for sustainable development. Dr. P. R. Datta, President of the conference and Executive Chair of the Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), highlighted the event's importance in fostering research and career development opportunities for scholars worldwide. Prof. Ebada Sarhan, President of the conference and President of Future University in Egypt, stressed the conference’s pivotal role in addressing critical global challenges. In her concluding remarks, conference Chair Prof. Ghadeer Badr emphasized the impact of the discussions on shaping policies and practices that will drive sustainable economic growth. The 13th ROGE served as a platform for fruitful exchanges, with participants leaving with renewed insights and a shared commitment to collaboratively addressing global economic challenges. As the conference concluded, there was a palpable sense of optimism and a collective vision for a more sustainable and equitable global economy.    

The Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), Professor Dr. Mihir Ranjan Halder, and Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sobhan Mia have resigned. They submitted their resignation letters to the Chancellor of the university on Monday. In his resignation letter, Professor Dr. Mihir Ranjan Halder stated, "I am voluntarily resigning from the position of Vice-Chancellor for personal reasons. To ensure the continuity of the university's operations until a new full-time or acting Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the President, Professor Dr. Muhammad Mashud from the Department of Mechanical Engineering will assume the duties of Vice-Chancellor." Professor Dr. Halder began his term as Vice-Chancellor on September 1, 2022. In his resignation letter, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sobhan Mia noted, "I assumed the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor at KUET on November 22, 2022. Due to physical illness and personal reasons, I am requesting to be relieved from my position."

Chittagong University (CU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Md Abu Taher resigned from his post on Sunday night. CU registrar Prof KM Nur Ahmad confirmed the matter on Monday morning saying that the VC sent his resignation letter via email. Moreover, he wrote a letter to President and Chancellor Mohammed Shahabuddin seeking relief from the position, he said. Students demanded his resignation for not protecting them from attacks of Chhatra League activists and his silence during the anti-discrimination student movement’s protests. After August 5, the students issued an ultimatum to the VC and others to step down. On August 9, the proctorial body, provosts of three students’ halls resigned. However, nothing could be known about resignation of Pro VCs (academic) Pro Benu Kumar Dey and (administrative) Prof Sekander Chowdhury.

Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) authorities on Sunday night banned the practice of politics by students, teachers, officials and staffers on the campus. An emergency syndicate meeting has banned politics, political meetings and rallies, said a notification signed by Kuet Registrar Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan on Sunday night. Earlier on Sunday night, students staged demonstration demanding resignation of Vice Chancellor Dr Mihir Ranjan Halder and Pro VC Prof Dr Sobhan Mia.

 Professor Dr. Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh, has resigned from his post.                                                 He resigned from his post citing personal reasons, said Prof. Dr. Asaduzzaman Sarker, general secretary of the BAU Teachers' Association. Besides, BAU Treasurer Professor Dr. Mohammad Saidur Rahman also submitted his resignation to the Acting Vice-Chancellor, citing a deterioration in his physical and mental health. Additionally, it has been reported that other officials, including Prof. Dr. Md. Abu Hadi Noor Ali Khan, Coordinator of Committee For Advanced Studies and Research; Prof Dr. Md. Harun-ur-Rashid, Students’ Affairs Adviser;Prof. Dr. Afrina Mustari, Associate Students’ Affairs Adviser; and Prof. Dr. Md. Rafiqul Alam, Director of the Transport Section, along with members of the Proctorial body, have also resigned. Regarding the resignations, Dr. Asaduzzaman Sarker stated that following the change in government on August 5, the Proctorial body resigned on the same day. The resignations of other officials, following the Vice-Chancellor's resignation on August 11, subsequently came to light, he added.    

 Hours after being given a 24-hour ultimatum to resign from the post, the Vice-Chancellor of the Jagannath University, Dr Sadeka Halim and others have stepped down from their respective posts. Acting registrar Prof. Dr Ainul Islam said the VC, Registrar and Proctorial body of the university and two house tutors submitted the resignation letters on Sunday evening. The students of Jagannath University (JnU) on Sunday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to Vice Chancellor Dr Sadeka Halim, registrar, full proctor body and hall provosts to step down by 3 pm on Monday. The protesters also placed 13-point demand including ban on student politics on campus, bearing the medical expenses of students died or injured during the protest, relieving those who got jobs on the campus with BCL affiliation within two-days, holding election after enacting guidelines within September 20, freeing the occupied dormitories and allocating those based on merits, implementing the construction work of second campus of the university,ensuring academic atmosphere, banning politics of teachers and giving priority to the students of the university during teachers’ recruitment and taking effective measures in stopping extortion and bidding in the name of politics.    

National University (NU) Vice Chancellor Dr Md Mashiur Rahman has resigned from his post. Dr Rahman submitted his resignation by mail to the Education Secretary this noon, according to the sources of National University. Later, he joined the Department of Sociology of Dhaka University, sources added. On 10 May 2017, Rahman was appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor of the National University. He was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the National University on 30 May 2021 replacing Harun-or-Rashid.

The administration of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University has banned all forms of political activities on campus, including those involving teachers and students. Professor Dr. Md. Saifur Rahman, additional registrar of the university, issued a notice on Sunday in this regard.   According to the notice, in view of the demands of the general students in order to maintain a fair environment of education in the University, no teacher, officer, or employee of this university can be involved with any political organisation. Those who disobey this order will be punished according to the relevant provisions of the university, said the notice. The registrar also sought everyone's cooperation to implement the order.   The general students are happy with the news of the order. However, a number of teachers, officials and student leaders who have received additional benefits related to party politics are not satisfied with the order.    

The students of Jagannath University (JnU) on Sunday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to Vice Chancellor Dr Sadeka Halim, registrar, full proctor body and hall provosts to step down by 3 pm on Monday. The students issued the ultimatum after a view-exchange meeting at the Central Auditorium at 2 pm. They also brought out a protest procession from the academic building on the campus and staged demonstrations there around 2:30 pm. Swarna Akter Ria, coordinator of Anti-discrimination student movement, said “We gave them a 24-hour ultimatum to resign within 3 pm on Monday and if they do not not step down than we will go for a tougher movement.” The protesters also placed 13-point demand including ban on student politics on campus, bearing the medical expenses of students died or injured during the protest,relieving those who got job on the campus with BCL affiliation within two-days, holding election after enacting guidelines within September 20, freeing the occupied dormitories and allocating those based on merits, implementing  the construction work of second campus of the university,ensuring  academic atmosphere, banning politics of teachers and giving priority to the students of the university during teachers’ recruitment and taking effective measures in stopping extortion and bidding in the name of politics.

Anti-Repression Teachers' Society of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet has presented an 18-point proposal to the newly formed interim government considering the current situation of the country. Prof Dr. Sajedul Karim, an organiser of the Anti-Repression Teachers' Society, confirmed the matter to the media on Sunday morning. Prof Sajedul said, "We hold the newly appointed head of the government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, in high regard and believe that under his capable leadership, the current crisis will be resolved swiftly, paving the way for the realization of the nation's dreams for a new, independent Bangladesh." "We extend our congratulations and best wishes to this government and in alignment with the expectations of the students and the public, present some proposals," he added. These are their proposals: 1. To restore law and order, all types of licensed firearms must be recovered. During the previous corrupt regime, licenses were granted only to party-affiliated murderers, who, in collaboration with helmet-wearing terrorists and the police, committed massacres against students and the public. Moreover, illegal arms, including those looted from various police stations, must be recovered with the assistance of the armed forces. 2. To eliminate the partisan influence in the administration, all officials at all levels, especially in the administration and police, must undergo a vetting process. Those responsible for unrest, indiscriminate shooting, massacres, and looting must be brought to justice immediately. 3. To establish justice and the rule of law in all sectors, judges appointed on a partisan basis must be removed promptly. 4. Given the current circumstances, the image of the police should be restored, and public trust regained by placing field-level police administration under the supervision of the army. 5. The existing education policy and curriculum, especially at the primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels, must be immediately repealed. A new curriculum should be formulated based on the opinions of renowned educational experts. Until the new curriculum is ready, the 2024 academic year should be conducted according to the previous curriculum. 6. A minimum allocation of 6% of the GDP must be ensured for the development of the education system. 7. Dormitories at all universities and colleges must be reserved exclusively for students. Part of the education budget should be used to improve classroom facilities, research, and the quality of student meals.  8. Only academically qualified, honest, courageous, and experienced educators should be appointed to administrative positions in public and private universities, particularly as vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, and treasurers.  9. The University Grants Commission must be restructured.  10. The ministries of education, health, and agriculture should appoint ministers and secretaries who are experts in their respective fields. Legislation should be enacted to ensure this.  11. The Bangladesh Public Service Commission must be freed from corruption and made accountable. Its education syllabus and examination system should be revised, and its chairperson and members should be appointed from among academics. 12. light of the current situation, all ongoing development projects must be prioritized and re-evaluated for their economic recovery potential. Effective measures must be taken to repatriate laundered money and to increase domestic and foreign investment by combating corruption.  13. The practice of extorting capacity charges in the power sector must be stopped, along with all forms of corruption. 14. To preserve and restore Bangladesh's image abroad, ambassadors and other officials must be urgently reassigned based on impartiality and merit. 15. Corruption in all forms of administration—governmental, autonomous, semi-autonomous, and private—must be rooted out. The assets accumulated by those who have amassed wealth through corruption should be confiscated. 16. The Election Commission must be restructured with neutral and acceptable individuals. Fake voters must be identified, and a new voter list must be prepared to ensure a fair and acceptable election at the earliest. 17. To protect minority communities and their places of worship during this critical period, a special team should be formed to ensure their security. Appropriate measures should be taken to prevent terrorists from destroying these places. 18.  An education commission must be established immediately to reform the education system and make it suitable for the modern era.  Prof Sajedul said that the expectations and proposals presented to the interim government stem from the people's struggle over the past 15 years against oppression, exploitation, and discrimination. He also expressed his condolences to the families of those who were martyred in the 2024 struggle for equality and justice, and expressed hopes that the newly formed interim government will fulfill the dreams of the nation.