United News of Bangladesh

If you want to boost your chances of a great career, consider studying in the USA. Students from Bangladesh and other parts of the world can grab this opportunity and choose from thousands of graduate programs. This educational journey in the USA offers not just academic excellence but also opens doors to a successful future. Here is a detailed guideline for international students to find their desired graduate program in the USA. Ways to Search for Academic Programs and Universities in the US Before you start looking at universities in the US, define your criteria first, such as location, programs, and budget. This will help narrow down your choices and make your search more focused. After that, follow the following steps. Start at the US Department of Education College Navigator Begin your journey by visiting the US Department of Education College Navigator website. This comprehensive platform allows you to search for associate’s, bachelor’s, and advanced degrees (master's and doctoral), making it an excellent starting point for exploring a wide range of programs. You can get a list of universities by applying different search filters. Read more: Higher Study in Germany: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi and Other International Students The American Center Talking to someone who knows about studying in the US can be really helpful. In that case, you can check EducationUSA. EducationUSA is a network by the US Department of State, and they have three advising centers in Dhaka and Chattogram. You can visit one of these centers near you to get information. You may attend virtual webinars online to learn more about American universities. EducationUSA offers precise and up-to-date information on all accredited US higher education institutions. Geared toward prospective students, the center provides comprehensive services for those aspiring to pursue higher education in the United States. Further, EducationUSA offers step-by-step programs guiding students through the application process. Weekly seminars are conducted for each application step, and individual counseling with advisers is available to further support students in their educational journey. Read more: Study in Norway: Scholarship Opportunities for International Students including Bangladesh

The written tests for the 45th Bangladesh Civil Service examination which were scheduled to start from November 27, 2023, were postponed for unavoidable reasons. 9,841 pass 43rd BCS written test Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) issued a press release in this regard this afternoon. 12,789 candidates pass 45th BCS preliminary test The changed schedule of the examination will be published on the PSC website, reads the release.

A day-long butterfly fair was held at Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus on Friday with the aim of conservation of butterflies and raising public awareness.Jahangirnagar University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr.Nurul Alam inaugurated the fair in front of Zahir Raihan Auditorium around 10 am.The Zoology Department of JU in association with the entomology unit of the Zoology Department of the University organized the fair.Various events of the day-long fair included dance, butterfly painting competition for children and teenagers, butterfly photography exhibition, butterfly photography competition, butterfly hut visit, butterfly kite flying, origami competition, barwari debate, butterfly recognition.This year, 'Butterfly Award 2023' was given to Prof. Anwarul Islam of Dhaka University Zoology department and 'Butterfly Young Enthusiast Award' was given to Md. Zahir Raihan of Chittagong University for special contribution to nature conservation.It is to be noted that the Butterfly Fair was held in the campus for the first time in 2010 to create public awareness about butterflies. Since then the butterfly fair has been held every year.

The authorities of Khulna University (KU) have recently taken punitive action against 10 students for violating discipline including taking drugs and misbehaving with fellows. The decision of the university administration came to light on Tuesday although the disciplinary committee of the university took the measures on November 15. Those who were punished are Pharmacy department’s Saif Newaz, Sumon Rahman, Sanjida Afrin Mayuri, Md. Noor Alam, Md. Bani Amin, Business Administration department’s Muhammad Zarif, Hizbullah Tamim, Urban and Rural Planning department’s Md. Kabirul Islam Bindu, Sandeep Pal and Mojtaba Fahim. Of them, Saif was fined Tk 20, 000; Sanjida Afrin and Noor Alam were fined Tk 15, 000 while Suman and Bani Amin Tk 5, 000 each. Muhammad Zarif, Md Kabirul, Sandeep Pal and Mojtaba Fahim were suspended for next two semesters along with fine of Tk 10, 000 each while Hizbullah was cautioned. They were asked to bring heir guardians along with their (students) NID cards within one month. KU’s students’ affairs director Prof Md Sharif Hasan Liton said the punitive measures were taken upon specific allegations which were proved through investigations. However, the students will get chance to appeal to the academic council against the punishment, he added.

The first phase of the government primary school assistant teacher recruitment test, 2023 will be held on December 8. The decision over the recruitment test was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain, held at the secretariat on Tuesday. The recruitment test will be held at 535 centres under 18 districts in Rangpur, Barishal and Sylhet division(first phase). A total of 3,60, 697 candidates are expected to take part in the exam. The exam will be held from 10 am to 11 am.  

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered 21 crude bombs from Bhoberber village under Benapole Land Port police station of Jashore district early today. Major Mohammad Saqib Hossain of RAB-6 said they conducted a drive in the village in the early hours of today after being tipped off that some bombs were stored there for carrying out subversive activities. Later, a total of 21 crude bombs, wrapped with tape and jute thread, were recovered from the bank of a pond, he said. Efforts are on to identify and arrest those involved, said the RAB official. The recovered bombs were handed over to Jashore's Benapole Port Police Station and Kotwali Model Police Station.

Khadijatul Kubra, a student of Jagannath University (JnU) who was released from Kashimpur central jail securing bail in two DSA cases on Monday (November 20, 2023) morning, sat for an examination shortly after her release.  Khadija was released from Kashimpur Women's Prison at 9 am on Monday and went directly to Jagannath University to take part in the semester final exam.  Although the exam started at 10 o'clock, she entered the hall at 11:30 am. She sat the exam in the fourth semester with two semesters lost. Her elder sister Sirajum Monira said, "We came to the prison early in the morning. Then Khadija was released at 9 am. Khadija's semester final exam starts today that's why we came early in the morning." Read: No bar to release JnU student Khadija from jail as SC upholds HC bail Earlier, Khadija secured bail last Thursday. The bail order reached the jail authorities on Sunday evening.  Despite waiting a long time on Sunday, her relatives had to return without her because she was not given the permission to release. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday upheld a High Court (HC) order that granted bail her in two cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA) in 2020. 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.' Read: Rally held to demand release of Khadijatul Kobra The allegations in the two cases filed a week apart, were similar. Police arrested Khadija on September 17, 2022. She had been in jail since then. 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. Read: Students demand release of JnU student Khadija 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. On February 23 this year, Khadija was granted bail by the HC in the cases. The state filed a petition challenging the bail. On July 10 of the year, the Appellate Division suspended the bail of Kubra for four months in two cases. During the hearing, Khadija's lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua argued that she was not accountable for the opinions expressed by guests in videos on her YouTube channel. Read more: JnU student Khadija’s bail suspended for 4 months in DSA cases

Bangladeshi ed-tech startup LEAD Academy has recently secured a coveted spot in the distinguished Stanford Seed Transformation Program’s class of 2024. This significant achievement positions LEAD Academy to further its commitment to fostering business excellence and transformative leadership to new levels, says a press release. The Stanford Seed Transformation Program, renowned for its world-class curriculum and innovative insights from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, is tailored for CEOs and founders of established businesses in Africa and South Asia. A comprehensive 10-month program, it aims to equip participants with skills, tools, and the mindset necessary for business growth and scaling, all while fostering a robust peer-to-peer support network. Also read: EducationUSA Bangladesh hosts US Education Fair at the EMK Center LEAD Academy has earned a reputation in Bangladesh as an online learning platform offering both local and internationally accredited certifications, adds the release. The selection of LEAD Academy in the Stanford Seed Transformation Program signifies a notable milestone in its journey, emphasizing the institution's dedication to excellence in education and business development. Ashfaq Zaman, founder of LEAD Academy, reacted by saying, "We are thrilled to have been chosen for the Stanford Seed Transformation Program. It is a remarkable opportunity to further elevate the impact of LEAD Academy. Personally, I am excited to learn from the best of the best because as we all know, Stanford has the best minds in business.” Also read: Bangladeshi students selected for higher studies in Russian universities to fly soon Expressing his thoughts on the news, LEAD Academy’s instructor, Rubaiyat Shaimom Chowdhury, who is also an Assistant Professor at Bangladesh University, stated, “As a professor, I know there is an academia-skill gap in Bangladesh, and LEAD Academy is a crucial platform to mitigate this gap. I am happy that LEAD Academy got selected for the STP Program, and this program will help LEAD Academy propel its journey in mitigating the gap with cutting-edge education.” Additionally, S.M. Arifuzzaman, another LEAD Academy instructor who is also the head of the School of Business at the Canadian University of Bangladesh, expressed, "In a short time, LEAD Academy has made a remarkable presence in the ed-tech landscape of Bangladesh. I strongly believe that LEAD Academy will lead the way forward for shaping the future of education in Bangladesh based on this prestigious program's values and thought leadership." The collaboration between LEAD Academy and the Stanford Seed Transformation Program reflects the institution's commitment to fostering innovation, transformative leadership, and contribution to the journey of smart education. Also read: ERF selected for WCO Certificate of Merit-2022

A plants fair was held at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on Saturday at its Mymensingh campus. The first-of-its-kind fair was organized by BAU Plant Lovers, a Facebook group started by the students, on its 6th anniversary, at the BAU TSC's Mini Conference Room. Impressed by the arrangement, a faculty member already pledged to have a second edition next year Sanjida Shaki Boishakhi, who organised the fair, said, “Our journey began in 2017 with tree enthusiasts of BAU through a Facebook group. Currently, we have 4,000 members, all actively engaged in agricultural studies and BAU students or graduates. Through our studies in agriculture, we aim to create a deep connection with plants. This was the primary objective behind initiating activities within this group.” “Our events were previously limited to online platforms. For the first time, on the occasion of the 6th anniversary, we arranged this fair," said Boishakhi. Dr. Afrina Mustari, assistant professor at the Department of Physiology at BAU, was very encouraging to the students. It was she who declared: "Next year, the fair will be arranged in an open space like the university's helipad or corridor, attracting a large number of visitors.” Dr Mustari, who also serves as an associate student advisor on the BAU campus, addressed the fair as chief guest. She assured the students that the university administration would always support them in such innovative and intellectual endeavors The fair consisted of a total of 12 stalls, showcasing nearly 100 species of plants for sale and display. The stalls exhibited various types of plants such as cacti, night queen, astrophytum, gymnocalycium, rebutia, rainbows, golden barrels, succulents, calathea, dragon plants, snake plants, coleus and many more.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the private universities to take the services from Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN) in a bid to reach their desired goals in the case of education and research. Three JnU students get Bangabandhu Sports Education Scholarship UGC Member Prof Biswajit Chanda made the call at a workshop titled “Improvement of Private Universities through Receiving BdREN Services,” held at the UGC auditorium in the city on Thursday, said a press release. BdREN is providing various types of digital services by establishing a world-class network. BdREN is maintaining professionalism in providing these services and developing software applications to speed up the UGC activities, he said. UGC-The British Council sign an Operational Alliance Agreement in Dhaka “The country’s private universities can consider taking the services of BdREN to advance education and research,” said Prof Chanda adding that BdREN's services received appreciation for online classes through the Zoom platform during the Covid pandemic. BdREN CEO Mohammad Tawrit said BdREN is moving ahead with the slogan 'Research Haven'. Currently, they are providing various services including network, data, hosting identity to 195 organisations. With the help of the UGC, BdREN is trying to provide services to public universities as well as private universities by accelerating its activities, he said. UGC, British Council sign deal to enhance quality education