United News of Bangladesh

At least seven students were injured in a clash between two groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL) Ashutosh Government College unit of Boyalmari Upazila in Chattogram on Sunday during the Independence Day ceremony. The clash took place around 12.30 pm at a programme on the college campus. Later, the police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. The injured are Arafat Hossain Tarek, Convenor of the College Chhatra League, Mahim Uddin, Jahed Hossain, Mithu, Altaf Hossain Hriday and Shubo Dash. All were treated at the Upazila Health Complex. Among them, Altaf Hossain Hriday and Shubo Dash have been referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Students said, in the Independence Day program, two groups of College Chhatra League suddenly clashed with each other with iron rods and sticks which spread panic in the college campus quickly. Abdur Razzak, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Boalkhali Police Station, said that there was a clash between two groups of the BCL college unit. We are looking into the matter. Neither party has filed any complaint yet, said the OC adding that legal action will be taken if any complaints would be filed.

A seminar on "Prevention of Misinformation and Social Inoculation" was held at Jahangirnagar University recently. The seminar was organised by the pharmacy department of the university in collaboration with UNESCO Bangladesh Representative and In-Charge of Dhaka Office Dr. Suzanne Wise. As the chief speaker of the seminar, Dr. Suzanne brilliantly illustrated this with various contemporary and real-life examples in her lecture. Besides, she shed light on the creation and spread of such misinformation and how it can be identified. Sakiba Yasmin, professor of Pharmacy department, briefly discussed how society can be protected from the harm caused by such misinformation. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Didare Alam Mohsin, head of Pharmacy department, appreciated the contribution that UNESCO is making on behalf of the United Nations in the development of education, science and culture of the country. Briefly highlighting the major obstacles in the field of scientific research in the country, he sought the cooperation of UNESCO in collecting data from various databases and providing the necessary equipment for scientific research. Dr. Suzanne assured to extend all possible cooperation from her office under their regular programme and to continue bilateral communication in this regard. Earlier, Dr. Suzanne met with JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Nurul Alam and had a brief courtesy. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Md. Manjurul Haque and Treasurer Professor Dr. Rasheda Akhtar were also present.

All primary schools in the country will remain open until 15 Ramadan (April 7), according to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. The school schedule has been fixed from 9 am to 3:30 pm, said a release of the ministry on Thursday. The schools will remain open a total of nine working days during Ramadan, it added. A coordination meeting presided over by secretary to the ministry Farid Ahmed took the decision at Primary and Mass Education Ministry conference room.

Enabling environment and equal opportunities can ensure children enjoying their full potential regardless of gender and can build their future to contribute to their country’s progress, said the speakers at a Model School Fair on Tuesday. The fair was organized by Plan International Bangladesh and SUROVI with the support of Directorate of Secondary & Higher Education (DSHE) under the project Child Bride to Bookworm in the premises of Maniknagar Model High School. This unique fair was inaugurated by the Chief Guest DSHE Directorate (Secondary) Mohammad Belal Hossain. Around one thousand students took part in this fair along with Government officials, teachers, and parents. Addressing the event, DSHE Directorate Professor Mohammad Belal Hossain said, following the efforts of the Bangladesh Government, a new curriculum has been introduced for two classes in 2023. Teachers are being trained to implement the curriculum.    He also mentioned that Head Teachers play the key role in driving the schools as model schools creating an enabling environment for the children. Teachers and parents have a supportive role to play here. This cannot be done alone. Integrated efforts are required. SRHR Lead of Plan International Bangladesh Ferdousi Begum said, Plan International Bangladesh has been working with several secondary schools following the guidance of DSHE. The learning should be disseminated among other schools. Syed Mainul Hassan, Deputy Director (Special Education) of DSHE, said, there is no alternative to develop smart Bangladesh to compete with the global world. For this, each and every school has to be a model school where all students, specially girls, will have the space to build themselves as skillful human resources. DSHE’s Assistant Director Md Khalid Saifullah said, to make a school a model one a few things need to be ensured, and these are- gender equity, quality education, inclusive education and trained teachers. In the conclusion remark, Ashik Billah, Head of Central and Northern Region of Plan International Bangladesh said, the project is working to reduce child marriage, school dropout, child labour and to strengthen school management through its intervention.  Executive Director of SUROVI Md Abu Taher spoke on the occasion as well. Following the event, children received awards for the best stalls of the day presenting the elements and process of their model school ensuring gender equality and enabling environment.

Zeiss, a leading German company with a global reputation operating in the optics optoelectronics sector and the only brand to provide both light, electron and X Ray Microscopes in Bangladesh inaugurated the state-of-the-art Labs@Location at the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) today. Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Howlader, Secretary (Health Services Division) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, joined the inauguration program as the Chief Guest. Additional Secretary of Health Services, Mr. Nazmul Haque Khan, Director General of Health Services, Prof. Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam were present among other guests. Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Howlader said, “Bio-Medication Engineering (BME) was established in BUET in 2016. Bangladesh has a large population. Medication is a necessary need of people. It is true that our economic capacity is not enough for our huge population. We do not have the industries to produce enough medical instruments for our country and we have to import the instruments from abroad.” “We always try to buy the best medical equipment but sometimes we could not avail them due to the ill practices of vendors,” he said while talking about importing medical equipment from abroad.   Addressing  Zeiss, one of the biggest medical equipment importers to Bangladesh, he said, “Bangladeshi patients have a great fascination toward German-made products. I request Zeiss to extend their facilities for Bangladesh and Bangladeshi people.” BUET pro-vice chancellor Prof. Abdul Jabbar khan said, “We are trying to prepare our graduates with knowledge in addition with information. So that they can function in industries with efficiency. We are focusing on making practical engineers, not theoretical engineers. And for this we are putting emphasis on soft skills of our students.” “This is the age of knowledge economies, and the main component of knowledge economy is intellectual capacity. It is a matter of regret that we are far behind in this sector. We need to focus on this part by producing skilled manpower who will contribute for the nation and the world,” he added. Speaking at the inauguration event at BUET, Vikas Saxena, Regional Head of SAARC, Zeiss Group said, "We are delighted to inaugurate Zeiss Labs@Location at BUET, which is one of the most prestigious institutes in Bangladesh. Zeiss has always remained committed to innovation in the field of science, and the latest Labs@Location is a testimony of our continued focus on providing current and future generations of science enthusiasts cutting-edge technology in the form of advanced microscopes and healthcare equipment. Each machine has been devised very carefully with the hope and belief that it will bring a significant change to how researchers view life and substance." Before the inauguration, Dr. Tarek Arafat, chairman of the department of Bio-Medication Engineering of BUET, gave a brief lecture about the fields in which they can contribute in the medication sector of Bangladesh, which include dialysis, medical gas systems, waste management, equipment management, fire safety systems, eye health, digital dentistry using 3D printing technology, and rehabilitation assessment through gaits.

The publication ceremony of a book on the country’s Bauls was held at a city hotel on Sunday. The book, “The Bauls of Bangladesh and the Untold Stories” was based on a research work by Professor Dr Anwarul Karim, an author, and researcher.  The Minister, LGRD&C Tajul Islam, MP was present at the ceremony as Chief Guest. Minister Tajul Islam paid glowing tributes to Professor Dr Anwarul Karim for his massive contribution to the Bangladesh culture by producing around 40 books both in English and Bengali. The Book, the Bauls of Bangladesh and the untold stories, had in it the songs of Lalon and the other Bauls. The minister said: “Lalon is now a world poet as his songs together with the other Bauls had left their mark on Tagore and our national poet Nazrul. Tagore’s Gitanjali which earned Nobel Prize has enough of Lalon and Baul influence in it. Lalon equals Socrates in his search for the ‘self’ through his songs. He also supersedes Homer as a folk poet regarding the theme and message as delineated in his songs.” Meher Afroz Chumki, the former Minister of Women and children affairs and President of Awami Mahila League in her speech also thanked Professor Karim for his contribution to the culture of Bangladesh through his research on the Bauls. She added that the government had also contributed to the development of Lalon academy which dr. Karim was founded in 1963 with the help of the local people.  Fariza Amena Karim, the young granddaughter of Professor Karim in her maiden speech praised her grandfather for his research on the Bauls. Presided over by Sultana Afroz the former Secretary and the Vice Chair of Bangladesh Institute of Folklore and Community Development the program was attended among others by the former Women and Child Affairs State Minister, Meher Afroz Chumki as the Special Guest, Professor Dr Tone Bleie of Norway, Director General (RO) Foreign Ministry, the Ambassadors of KSA and Norway and the High Commissioners of Australia, Members of the Diplomatic Corps. Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and Professor Dr Abu Yousuf Md. Abdulla of Northern University Bangladesh was also present at the unveiling ceremony.    

The 15th convocation of Brac University was held Monday at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in the capital. A total of 4,889 students received degrees while 31 gold medals were awarded in various categories. Education Minister Dipu Moni presented the chancellor's gold medals. Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, pro-vice-chancellor and acting vice-chancellor of Brac University, presented the vice-chancellor's gold medals. Omar Ishrak, former chairman and CEO of Medtronics, was the convocation speaker. Dipu Moni said: "We want our students to take the lead in knowledge creation, be progressive in thinking, inspired by honesty, humanity and patriotism, healthy in body and mind and energetic in action." "Since its establishment in 2001, Brac University has been producing competent graduates by imparting quality education," she added. Tamara Hasan Abed, chair of Brac University's board of trustees, said: "By exercising Brac University's teachings on empathy, graduates can switch on the light of hope for others." She also added that the graduates will take many journeys and reach many destinations over the next 50 years taking Bangladesh to the forefront. Mahfuzul, acting vice-chancellor of Brac University, said: "As a forward-looking institution, Brac University aims to help students develop empathy, creativity and entrepreneurship so that they can thrive despite significant social changes and grow as future leaders." "This will go a long way to help fulfil the mission of the present and future governments, businesses and social enterprises." Omar urged the graduates to develop a sense of purpose and a vision of how they all could make a difference. "This is the right time to think about it and drive priorities. Having long-term goals makes a difference and graduates should achieve purpose in life, remain committed to lifelong learning, stay informed and adapt to challenges," he added.  

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that 22 universities in the country will join the uniform entrance test for university admission in the 2022-2023 academic session. Quoting Prof. Mohammad Alamgir, UGC member and convenor of the uniform admission test committee, a media release said a uniform admission test will be organized in all the universities of the country that are part of the process for the next (2023-2024) academic session.  Also Read: Islamic University won't join combined admission test system The commission directed the universities to take the test and complete the admission process promptly, reads the release. Authorities of the universities were advised to make the admission test process easy and student-friendly, it said.  The decision was made in a meeting at the UGC on Monday. Prof. Kazi Shahidullah, Chairman of UGC, said there are some challenges, but  there’s no scope to opt out of this system.     

The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia on Sunday decided not to join the combined admission test system for the 2022-23 academic session. The decision was made at the 125th academic council meeting of the university with its vice-chancellor Shaikh Abdus Salam in the chair. IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan told UNB that the university authorities would conduct its own entry test for the students as per its previous system. "Most of the departments opposed holding the admission test under the unified admission test system and that’s why we aren’t joining it," he said. IU VC Shaikh Salam would inform the decision to the University Grants Commission at its meeting scheduled to be held on Monday and final decision would be taken then, he added. Among others, IU pro vice-chancellor Professor M Mahbubur Rahman, treasurer Professor M Alamgir Hossain Bhuiya, acting registrar HM Ali Hasan, chairmen and deans of different faculties were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, a group of students of the university staged a demonstration on the campus in Kushtia on Sunday morning demanding to hold the admission test under its own process. Around 50 students from different departments formed a human chain in front of the university’s Mrittunjoyee Mujib Mural to press home their demand. Earlier, the Islamic University Teachers’ Association on February 12 decided not to join the cluster intake test process as it would create complexity, deferment and lack of combination instead of reducing the hassle of admission seekers. The association submitted a written statement to the university administration regarding the matter. IUTA president Professor M Jahangir Hossain said that the cluster admission process failed to meet its target of reducing hassles and sufferings of the admission seekers and their guardians as well.  

Team Sirius from the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Saturday clinched the title of the AdventHR 2.0, an HR strategy-based case competition. The champions were followed by Team Scrutinizer from Dhaka University and Team Lamestream from the Islamic University of Technology (IUT). These three teams of the final round shared a prize pool of Tk100,000. As artificial intelligence (AI) and other forms of automation have become more advanced, they are increasingly able to replace human workers in a variety of roles. This creates a challenge for human resource (HR) managers to manage the workforce and ensure that their needs are met while also using the power of AI. To face these challenges and explore more about AI and its effect in the HR world, BUP Human Resource and Leadership Club hosted the second season of its flagship event AdventHR. The grand finale of the competition took place at BUP's Bijoy Auditorium.