United News of Bangladesh

A total of 14 students of Theater and Performance Studies Department of Dhaka University (DU) have been awarded with Professor Zia Hayder Memorial Scholarship for their outstanding academic results. Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman, vice chancellor of Dhaka University, distributed the scholarships among the students at a ceremony held at DU (Nat Mandal) on Sunday. The programme was presided over by the department's chairperson Mrs. Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma while DU VC attended the programme as the chief guest. DU Vice Chancellor said, Prof Zia Haider had played a pioneering role to promote theatre education and culture in the country. The VC urged the students to enrich themselves with cultural and humanitarian values to establish the light of truth in the society. The scholarship winning students are: SM Latiful Khabir, Kirti Vijaya, Imtenan Mohammad Zaki, Kamrun Nahar Liza, Md. Aminur Rahman, Ahmed Raufur Rahim, Rudra Sawzal, Farzia Haque Farin, Md. Ashraful Islam, Debashish kumar de Prashant, Kripa kona Talukdar, Tanjila Jannat Ruma, Umme Sumaiya and Shanker kumar Biswas.  Among others, DU Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Arts faculty dean Prof Abdul Bashir and Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Shaonti Haider addressed the programme.

A freshers' orientation programme was held at Islamic University in Kushtia on Saturday amid festivity and much enthusiasm. IU Law and Land Management department organised the programme at room no-415 of the university's Mir Mosharraf Hossain Academic building in the morning. Read: IU-209 seats still vacant IU law faculty dean Professor Syeda Siddika addressed the programme as chief guest while IU law administrator M Anisur Rahman, assistant Professor Mehedi Hasan were present as special guests. IU Law and Land Management department chairperson assistant Professor Shahida Akhtar chaired the programme.  Alif Hasan, a student of the department, conducted the programme attended by around one hundred students of the department.  Read: IU students, teachers stage demonstration demanding investigation into Nowrin’s death Later, the freshers' were accorded  with floral reception on the occasion.  Meanwhile, the orientation programmes of all departments were held at the respective department on Saturday. 

Friday's Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) rally turned the Dhaka University campus into a messy ‘bus stand’ as all the activists who came to join the rally from across the country hiring buses and microbuses chose to park on the campus. From the very morning, leaders and activists were seen to come to the University area as the BCL rally was organized at the adjacent Suhrawardy Uddyan. The vehicles were parked on the sports ground of the Kabi Jashimuddin Hall, sports ground of Muhsin Hall and on the roads everywhere without taking any kind of permission from the DU authority and the people’s gathering made a worsening situation to move freely across the campus. On the other hand, BCL leaders and activists who came from outside, were seen gathering the hall canteens. Moreover, some of the DU BCL leaders evacuated students from 'gono room' and let outsiders stay at the hall. Due to this extra pressure of outsiders, there was a shortage in cooked foods in almost every male hall and the students who went a little bit late, were not able to buy lunch from the canteens.

Two leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the ruling Awami League of Rajshahi University unit, allegedly forced out a resident student from his hall room. The incident took place at Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall of the university at around 3.00 pm on Thursday. Following the incident, victim Mahtab Uddin, student of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology department, submitted a written complaint with the hall provost. Read: Ragging at Hajee Danesh: Action taken against 9 students The accused Chhatra League leaders are RU Shamsuzzoha Hall unit general secretary Momin Islam and RU BCL joint secretary Khandkar Shahriar Sourav. Both of them are the supporters of Faisal Ahmed Runu, general secretary of the university unit Chhatra League. "I have been re-allocated to room no. 326 by the hall provost. On Thursday around 2:30pm, Momin Islam, General Secretary of Shamsuzzoha Hall unit Chhatra League forcibly dragged me out of the room and threw my bedding elsewhere. They also threatened to beat me if I would not leave the room. Now I am suffering from insecurity," Mahtab Uddin wrote. However, Chhatra League leader Momin Islam claimed that the allegation against him is completely false and baseless, and no one dragged him out. Read: Students of 7 DU-affiliated colleges stage protest blocking Nilkhet Faisal Ahmed Runu, general secretary of the university unit Chhatra League, said the issue has been settled by the provost. Ikramul Islam, provost of Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall, said recently that Mahtab was shifted to room no. 326 from 154, and he has been staying there since Wednesday. “As the room was allotted to Mahtab, he will be in that room, and we are arranging to transfer Mahtab to that seat by talking to the university administration,” he added.  

Germany has expressed interest to cooperate with Bangladeshi universities in conducting research and innovation, and establishing international centres there. A three-member delegation of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), led by its director Dr Katja Lasch showed this willingness while paying a courtesy call on Chairman (in-charge) of University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh Dr Muhammed Alamgir on Thursday here in the city, said press release. Read: UGC asks universities to follow financial regulations properly In the meeting, they said they are keen to run joint research programmes and conduct education and research at joint finance in the universities of the two countries, and help Bangladesh establish international centres in its universities. They said the German government will create scope for the teachers of Bangladeshi universities to pursue higher study in German universities. Dr Katja Lasch said the German Academic Exchange Service provides fund to German universities to offer higher education opportunities to foreign students. Read: Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon welcomes Myanmar students of AUW A scholarship program has already been offered and eligible and interested candidates from Bangladesh can apply for this scholarship till 28 October next, he said requesting the UGC to encourage Bangladeshi students to apply for the scholarship. He expressed interest in exploring the issue of cooperation to set up international centres in Bangladeshi universities to increase communication with foreign universities. The DAAD Director said Bangladeshi teachers and researchers can also participate in various exchange programmes by contacting German universities. He asked the UGC to help introduce courses on German studies in Bangladeshi universities and take initiatives to create higher education opportunities for Bangladeshis in German universities with joint funding. Read: DPS STS School Dhaka becomes the first school in Bangladesh to launch the Cambridge Early Years Programme Dr Katja Lasch expressed interest in organizing necessary training and workshops to enhance the capacity of the people concerned in the management of innovation and incubation centres in Bangladesh. Dr Alamgir asked the DAAD to come up with specific proposals over its support programme to improve the quality of higher education and research of Bangladesh. He called upon the German delegation to cooperate in establishing a German language learning institute in Bangladeshi universities and increasing the management capacity of the Innovation and Incubation Centre in Bangladesh.  

A total of 209 seats of Islamic University in Kushtia have remained vacant at the undergraduate level after enrolling candidates who entered the first merit list into unified admission test under 2022-23 academic session of the university.  Around 1,781 candidates who secured admission in the university's first round of seat allocations, against 1,990 seats, got admitted, IU academic section office officials said on Thursday.  Read: CU BCL faction locks university gates Among the 209 seats, 63 seats have remained vacant in the science faculty; 76 seats in arts, social science and law faculties altogether and 40 in the business administration faculty, IU academic section Director ATM Emdadul Alam told UNB. The vacant seat would be fulfilled by enrolling students from the upcoming merit and waiting lists, he said. Read: Memorandum submitted to DU VC demanding relocation of 300 Maitree hall students More information regarding the admission procedure is available on the university website at www.iu.ac.bd.  

The University Grants Commission (UNB) of Bangladesh on Wednesday asked the public universities to follow the financial regulations properly. The UGC asked the universities to properly apply the Public Procurement Act, the 9th Pay Scale, the financial and revenue guidelines and others to bring down the audit objections to zero. UGC chairman Prof Dr Md Abu Taher made the call while addressing a training programme on 'Use of Audit Management and Monitoring System (AMMS) Software' here in the city. The UGC arranged the training programme for the officials concerned of nine universities of Dhaka region, aiming to enhance the financial transparency and accountability as well as ensure quick services by using the software. Read: President Shahabuddin asks UGC to roll out job-based curriculum Dr Abu Taher said the use of audit management and monitoring system software will strengthen transparency and accountability in the financial sector and increase dynamics. Besides, the audit process could be done in a shorter time and lower cost, and the number of audit objections would come down, he said. UGC Secretary Dr Ferdous Zaman also spoke at the event, said a press release. Read more: UGC proposes Tk12262 crore for higher education sector for FY2023-24  

The authorities of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University have taken disciplinary action against nine students, including expelling them from class examinations, in connection with a ragging incident. A notice signed by the university's registrar Professor Saifur Rahman, informed the concerned about the punishment. Read: HC orders Kushtia DC to probe ragging of a female student at IU The university Proctor Dr Mamunur Rashid confirmed that disciplinary action has been taken against the accused. According to the extent of ragging, two students of the 22nd batch of Marketing department were expelled from participating in classes and examinations for two semesters (one year) and four from one semester (six months). Three other students have been warned on oral notices. Read: JU organises ragging resistance rally Some of the new students of the university's 2023 academic year were harassed in different ways on the pretext of ragging in the residential hostel area including the campus on August 24. In this regard, the students complained to the university administration. The matter was investigated and evidence was found.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Md Monwar Hossain has said the quality and atmosphere of higher education in Bangladesh is poised at a very high standard and one of the best in South Asia at this moment. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Yangon organized a sending-off reception on Monday for the Myanmar students of the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. This year 10 Myanmar students were awarded fully funded scholarships to study in AUW in Computer Science, Environmental Science, Economics and Public Health, said the Embassy. The function at the Chancery included welcoming the 10 Myanmar students to the Bangladesh Embassy with flowers and handing over Bangladesh visa. The Ambassador congratulated the 10 scholarship awardees of Myanmar and said Myanmar students have been awarded with a unique opportunity to learn in their respective fields of interest and on completion of their study the students will be able to make a positive difference in their home countries to build a knowledge based economy. He said the students can play a pivotal role as an Ambassador to the Bangladesh-Myanmar relationship using their intercultural relationship and experience gathered in Bangladesh. He opined that Bangladesh Embassy supports the activities of deeper engagements between the educational institutions of the two countries to foster mutual prosperity. The Ambassador recalled that the Asian University for Women, operating since 2008, currently has more than 1300 students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Senegal Sri Lanka, Syria, Temor Leste, Vietnam and Yemen enrolled in pre-university & undergraduate program. The Ambassador concluded by proposing an ‘Asian University for Women Alumni Association of Myanmar Students’ for further strengthening the ties between the students and the Embassy. He wished the Myanmar students good luck for their pursuit of higher studies and a better future.    Officers and officials of the Embassy were present at the programme.  

Leaders and activists from progressive and left leaning parties have demanded the release of Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kobra from a rally held on the Dhaka University campus. The rally was called marking one year of the arrest of Khadijatul Kobra, a student of Jagannath University, under the draconian Digital Security Act that is now set to be amended, for hosting an online talk show where a guest made comments that offended the government. Two cases were filed against her by police.   Today's rally was attended by former president of Communist party of Bangladesh, Mujahidul Islam Selim; Prof. Tanzimuddin Khan of international relations department of Dhaka University, convenor of Ganasamhati Andalon, Junaid Saki; and leaders and activists from left leaning students parties. Prof. Tanzimuddin said, "The system under which we are living in is totally inhumane. We all are in danger. We are living in a ‘culture of fear’ and we do not have the right to express our words." "The system that is going on, must be changed because there is no governance. to change the government, we have to fight till the end," he added Demanding release of Khadijatul Kobra, he said, " Khadija is a woman and she has legal rights to defend herself but state mechanisms deprived her from her rights. To have our rights back we have to establish a democratic government by applying our proper voting power. If we elect a government democratically, the government will be bound to hear us and respond to our questions." Junaid Saki, said, "Khadijatul Kobra was captured under the allegations of ‘attempt against the government and creating unrest situation in the country’. But in a democratic country it is legal to attempt to remove the government from power. It is very much democratic and constitutional because taking attempts to Against government and taking attempts against the state(treason) are not the same things." Demanding unconditional release of Khadija, he said, "Khadija has been arrested under DSA which act has recently been removed under foreign pressures but Khadija is still in the prison. On the other hand they are trying to reinforce the same act by renaming the cybersecurity Act which will be the same as Digital Security Act." Later, Saki asked the students to form a movement to remove the 'fascist government' from the power to protect the country and to implement the potentials that our country has. Mujahidul Islam Selim, former president of CPB, said, "People of our country will remember Khadija forever as a fighter of democracy and those, who imprisoned her, will be remembered as the culprits." "The release of Khadijatul Kobra from the prison is related to the government in power. We have to remove this government from the power to free Khadija." Demanding caretaker government during the next national election, he said, "AL representatives saying that if they do not come to power in the next election, they have to fly to foreign country. That's why, to stay in this country and to be in power, they will again stage a 'fake election drama'. We have to resist them and remove them. We want a caretaker government."