United News of Bangladesh

Chittagong University authorities have suspended 24 examinations of 22 departments as heavy rainfall lashed the region again. An official press release by the CU administration on Sunday afternoon confirmed the postponement. Read more: Teesta's water level crosses danger mark, triggers flooding in Lalmonirhat History, Philosophy, Anthropology, International Relations, Persian Language and Literature, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Chemistry, Oceanography, Pali, Islamic Studies, English, Sanskrit, Education and Research, Arabic, Marketing, Communication and Journalism, Psychology, Accounting, Banking and Insurance, Finance, Botany, and Physics department’s all examinations scheduled for Sunday (August 27) were postponed. However, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and Sports Science Departments proceeded with their examinations. Read more: Bandarban flood: 15,600 houses left severely damaged, people going home from shelters  The shuttle train service between the city and the university came to a halt today. Torrential overnight rainfall led to the closure of the Chattogram-Hathazari road communication on Saturday.

Students of seven colleges affiliated to Dhaka University blocked the capital’s Nilkhet intersection for 6 hours demanding an easing of CGPA conditions for promotion and to protest "discrimination of DU authority" by staging a symbolic 'mass suicide' program. They formed the blockade at the intersection around 12.45 pm. Earlier they brought out a procession from TSC of Dhaka University to the Nilkhet intersection. Later, the students withdrew their blockade around 6.45 pm. Following the blockade, DU postponed the 3rd year final exams of the 2022 academic year. Taslim Chowdhury, coordinator of the Seven College Movement, said, "We met Supriya Ma'am, principal of Eden Mohila College, she assured us to fulfill our demands earlier on August 16. But we see no visible advancement in this process. That's why we again came here to claim our demands. We will not go back home until our demands are heard." They demanded a balanced promotion policy following the promotion policy of Dhaka University and cancelling the police action to bar them from appearing in the final exams when their CGPA is below 2.50 out of CGPA 4.00, and allowing them to be promoted to the next year through quality improvement tests if a student fails three subjects. While protesting, some seven college students fell sick and immediately were taken to Dhaka Medical college hospital for treatment.      

There is no crisis or problem in printing new books for the next academic year, Education Minister Dipu Moni said on Friday. Last year there were several issues including paper and electricity shortage, but this year there is no issue, the minister said while talking to journalists after a views-exchange programme with the administration on the law and order situation and development activities of the district at Chandpur Circuit House this afternoon. Read: School feeding programme to be launched in 150 upazilas soon: primary edu secretary The tender process for printing primary books has already been completed and tender work is going on for secondary schools, Dipu Moni informed. Besides, there is a committee who is responsible to complete the tender work. "All the books for the next academic year will reach the upazilas on time and we will be able to hold the book festival on January 1st," she hoped. Regarding internal conflicts of Awami League, Dipu Moni said not only in AL, conflict is basically present everywhere. Awami League is a big party. The country has been run by AL under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the last 15 years with enormous success, she said. Read: New textbooks to reach upazila level by November: Primary and Mass Education Secretary "Under her leadership, we have improved in every field and we are dreaming to be turned into a developed country, and now we have all kinds of capabilities to build a developed country," she said. Dipu Moni said that a committee has been made centrally to resolve the conflict. This committee is working to resolve conflicts at all levels. Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Kamrul Hasan, Police Superintendent Mohammad Saiful Islam, Chandpur Municipal Council Mayor Zillur Rahman, Faridganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Zahidul Islam Roman were also present.  

A faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Chittagong University unit locked the gates of the university on Thursday in a bid to voice their concerns over the ongoing crisis surrounding Alaol Hall. Acting under the banner of the general students, this demonstration started around 7 pm. During this time, the protesters resorted to burning tires, effectively halting traffic on an adjacent roadway. They called off the protest after two hours at 9 pm when the proctor intervened and gave assurances to the demonstrators. They presented nine-point demands, with the immediate resignation of the hall's provost topping the list. The demands are: regular cleaning of water tanks, maintenance of bathing facilities, ensuring robust internet services, provision of sports equipment, maintenance of the hall's overall cleanliness, expeditious completion of ongoing renovation projects, diligent oversight of hall employees' duties, and administrative accountability for any employee negligence. Speaking out about their motivations, some participating students said the longstanding nature of the issues, the provost's alleged indifference despite being apprised of the problems on numerous occasions led them to take to the streets. The protest unfolded under the banner of the general student body; however, it has emerged that the demonstrators are primarily affiliated with Mohammed Eleyas, the joint secretary of the CU Chhatra League. This affiliation has led to assertions from certain faculty members, including the provost, who have opined that the protest is, in fact, an offshoot of the exclusion of three followers of Mohammed Eleyas. Contrary to the student claims, Mohammed Faridul Alam, the provost of Alaol Hall, said that while the protest indeed illuminated prevailing concerns, the crux of the matter lies in the expulsion of several students. These expelled students were allegedly involved in an altercation wherein an assistant proctor was targeted, he said. According to the university administration, twelve leaders and activists linked to Bijoy sub-party, led by Mohammed Eleyas, were expelled for their involvement in clashes, vandalism, and reportedly charging towards an assistant proctor with weapons on January 9. In a counter-narrative, Mohammed Eleyas, the joint secretary of the CU Chhatra League, said that his participation in the protest was a display of solidarity with the students' legitimate demands and not a reaction to the expulsions. Proctor Nurul Azim Shikder said that after a dialogue with the demonstrators, the Vice Chancellor was apprised of their demands.  

The STS Group has partnered with the Cambridge University Press and Assessment under the University of Cambridge, to delightedly announce the launch of ‘Cambridge Early Years Programme’ (Cambridge EY) in Bangladesh through Delhi Public School (DPS) STS School Dhaka. A signing ceremony held on Tuesday  at the DPS STS Junior School auditorium featured the Managing Director of the Cambridge University Press and Assessment, South Asia, Arun Rajamani, and the CEO of STS Group, Manas Singh, wherein they signed the agreement for offering Cambridge EY on behalf of their respective organizations.  Read: 9,841 pass 43rd BCS written test Principal of the DPS STS School Dhaka, Dr Shivananda CS and other guests attended the ceremony alongside parents of the DPS STS students. The Cambridge EY Programme is a holistic educational approach designed for children aged 3-6 years, with play-based learning to unlock a unique intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development. Termed the ‘First stage to the Cambridge Pathway,’ this programme focuses on developing children’s knowledge and skills in certain areas, namely – personal, social and emotional development, physical development, communication and language, mathematics, understanding the world, expressive arts and design, and much more.  The child-centred plan aims to enable learners to develop at their own pace, help them act independently and encourage them to discover feelings of self-worth.  Read: School feeding programme to be launched in 150 upazilas soon: primary edu secretary Regarding this momentous agreement, the Managing Director of the Cambridge University Press and Assessment, South Asia, Arun Rajamani, said, “We are glad to partner with STS Group to bring the Cambridge EY Programme to Bangladesh via our partners DPS STS and GIS. The Cambridge EY programme provides young learners with a strong foundation. It also equips them with the skills and knowledge necessary for future excellence.” The CEO of STS Group, Manas Singh, said, “At STS, we are committed to providing our students with the best educational opportunities. We are excited to partner with Cambridge to offer the Cambridge EY Programme, which will enhance the overall learning experience of our young students and help us ready the next generation leaders with the right skill sets.” Read: Memorandum submitted to DU VC demanding relocation of 300 Maitree hall students  About the Cambridge EY, the Principal of the DPS STSSchool Dhaka, Dr Shivananda CS, said, “We are proud to be one of the first schools to offer the Cambridge EY Programme in Bangladesh. This programme will provide our students with a solid foundation for lifelong learning and prepare them to pursue higher benchmarks in future academic and professional careers.”    

The students of and teachers Islamic University staged a demonstration on the campus in Kushtia  on Tuesday demanding proper investigation into ‘mysterious death’ of the university’s debating society president Nowrin Nusrat. A group of students and teachers under the banner of Islamic University Debating Society formed a human chain in front of Mrittunjoyee Mujib Mural adjacent to the university's main entrance around 11:30am. Over 50 students from different departments of the university took part in the human chain to press home their demand. Addressing the human chain, the speakers said that Nowrin Nusrat was a sensible student of the university who used to take part in different awareness programmes including campaign to prevent suicide. The speakers urged the university administration and the law enforcement agencies to investigate Nusrat’s unusual death and give exemplary punishment to the culprits.  Among others, IU progressive alliance Shapla Forum general secretary Professor M Mahbubar Rahman, IUDS adviser Professor Dr Mamunur Rahman, IU English department associate Professor Sazzad Zahid, IUDS moderator and the chairman of Law and Land Management department Shahida Akhtar and IUDS general secretary Nazmus sakib were present in the human chain.  Nowrin Nusrat , a student of IU Law and Land Management department under 2017-18 academic session and president of Islamic University Debating Society, got married to Ibrahim Khalil on July 21. Nowrin and her husband started to live in a rented house at Savar in Dhaka. On August 8, she locked into an altercation with her husband and at one stage she jumped off the 6th floor of the house and received critical injuries, according to her family. Later, local people rescued Nusrat and took her to a clinic where the attending doctors declared her dead.    

The authorities of the Islamic University in Kushtia on Monday expelled five of its students — a former leader and four former activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League — permanently for torturing a first-year student of finance and banking department.The decision was made at an emergency syndicate meeting held on the campus with IU vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam in the chair in the afternoon.On July 16, the university administration expelled the five students from the university for one year as per the university law, but the High Court on July 26 scrapped the expulsion order as the punishment was not handed down in accordance with the university’s code of conduct.The court also asked the vice-chancellor of the university to re-fix the punishment following the university’s Student Code of Conduct 1987. Read: Female student torture: HC scraps expulsion order against 5 IU BCL activistsThe expelled students are then BCL university unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora of statistics department and her associates Tabassum Islam and Maobiya Jahan, of finance and banking department, Halima Khatun Urmi of fine arts department and Israt Jahan Mim of law department.IU pro-vice-chancellor M Mahbubur Rahman, treasurer M Alamgir Hossain Bhuiya, acting registrar HM Ali Hasan, among others, attended the meeting.IU proctor M Shahadat Hossain Azad told UNB that the university authorities expelled Ontora and four of her associates from the university permanently following the direction of the High Court.The decision of the meeting would be sent to the High Court by August 23. Read: Recruitment anomaly: ACC starts probe against IU VCThe victim female student said, “I am satisfied with the university administration’s decision against Ontora and four of her associates.”None will dare to do such a heinous act on the campus in the future, she added.The victim was tortured and intimidated by the then IU unit BCL vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her associates, including Tabassum, Mim, Urmi and Maobiya, in Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on the campus at night on February 12.Ontora, at one stage, forced the victim to get undressed and videoed the incident on the mobile phone.Ontora also threatened that she would make the video viral on social media if the victim disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complaint the victim filed with the university administration, including the university proctor, student adviser and hall provost, on February 14.On February 15, the university authorities formed a five-member probe body headed by IU law department chairperson Reba Mondol. Read: 3 IU BCL activists suspended over medical centre vandalismTwo probe bodies formed by the Islamic University authorities submitted their reports on February 26.Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall administration expelled the five accused on February 27. On March 1, the Bangladesh Chhatra League expelled Ontora and the four activists for torturing and humiliating the female student.Based on the probe report submitted by Kushtia district administration on February 28, the High Court bench on March 1 asked the university to suspend the accused BCL leader and activists.The court also asked the vice-chancellor and registrar of the university to immediately remove Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall provost Shamsul Alam and house tutors Moumita Akhter and Ishrat Jahan for their alleged negligence that led to the ill-treatment of the victim.The IU authorities later suspended the five accused students from the university as well as removed Shamsul Alam as provost of Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall.The university authorities had also notified Ontora and her four associates asking them to submit their replies to the complaint in seven working days.The university administration also allocated a seat to the female student in Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall on her choice following the High Court order.

A total of 9,841candidates have passed the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) written examination. Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) published the results on Sunday. Read: School feeding programme to be launched in 150 upazilas soon: primary edu secretary The preliminary test of 43rd BCS was held on October 29, 2021 and some 15,229 candidates passed the examination. The written examination was held in 2022. Read: New textbooks to reach upazila level by November: Primary and Mass Education Secretary From the 43rd BCS, 1,814 cadres will be recruited.  Of them, 300 will be recruited in administration, 100 in police, 25 in Foreign Service , 843 in education, 35 in audit, 22 in information, 19 in taxation, 14 in customs and 19 in cooperatives cadre.  

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed on Saturday said that the school feeding programme will be launched in 150 upazilas of the country in a new way within a short time. He came up with the announcement while addressing the ‘National Dissemination Workshop’ on Findings & Factors of National Students Assessment-2022 organised by Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar. The secretary hoped that a new door will usher in the primary education sector through the school feeding and it will script a base for building a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. Read: New textbooks to reach upazila level by November: Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed said the children will be provided nutrition-rich biscuits along with other foods which will be attractive to them and play a special role in fulfilling demand and forming the body. Addressing the government’s initiatives to ensure quality education, he said dropping out the children from the school will reduce and enrollment of children will also increase through the school feeding. Read: State minister for Primary and Mass Education impressed with Walton’s progress Chaired by Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Director Shah Rezwan Hayat, DPE Additional Director General Dilip Kumar Banik, UNICEF’s Country Representative Sheldon Yett, UK High Commission Education Advisor Mohammad Golam Kibria, DPE Director Shahinoor Shaheen Khan among others spoke at the event. Read more: Improve quality of our education to keep pace with world: PM Hasina

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed on Thursday said textbooks of the next academic year will reach upazila level by November as they are committed to deliver books to all children on the first day of the new year. The minister announced this while speaking as the chief guest at a virtual workshop on the 2nd Annual Action Plan of USAID’s “Shobai Miley Shikhi” (Let's learn together) project in the morning. Also read: History & Social Science: Inquiry-based textbook for class 6, 7 withdrawn For the new academic year, the textbooks of class 2 and 3 have been prepared according to the revised curriculum. Meanwhile, students of 4th and 5th grade will get new textbooks  based on a revised curriculum in the academic year of 2025. On the “Shobai Miley Shikhi” project, the Mass Education Secretary said,”The key to learning together is that no one will be left out or left behind, everyone will get equal opportunities, and will move forward continuously through collective efforts.” Also read: NCTB gives corrections for 9 mistakes in 3 textbooks of new curriculum He called for an action plan to develop children to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Presided over by Additional Director General of the Department of Primary Education Dilip Kumar Banik, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Additional Secretary of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Mosharraf Hossain, Supervisory Contracting Officer of USAID’s Bangladesh mission Andrew Holland, USAID’s Director of Education Sonjai Reynolds-Cooper, Director of Department of Primary Education Manish Chakma. Also read: Zafar Iqbal admits plagiarism charge in new textbook, expresses disappointment