United News of Bangladesh

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has resumed the online transfer system of the assistant teachers of the government primary schools after closure for long days. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain resumed the online transfer system at an event at his ministry on Wednesday. Primary and Mass Education Ministry Senior secretary Aminul Islam Khan and Directorate General of Primary Education Mohibur Rahman, among others, spoke. On the first day, online transfers were made at 18 primary schools in Kaliakair of Gazipur on pilot basis.  The transfer system will be completed through software developed by the ministry.   The online transfer system was introduced to make the transfer of primary school teachers easy and hassle-free. However, the implementation of the programme  was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On June 30 this year, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque inaugurated the pilot programme of the system in Gazipur. Teachers who have applied till July 15, 2022 will be included under the pilot programme. After completion of the pilot programme, online transfer of primary teachers will be started across the country. Read also: Primary teacher recruitment: 40, 862 qualified for viva-voce in first phase exam

Alleging that a BNP-Jamaat-Shibir faction is spreading propaganda through social media from abroad, Education Minister Dipu Moni claimed that nothing new on religion was included in or dropped from the textbooks. Dipu Moni made the remarks while answering to the questions of journalists after distributing cheques from the prime minister’s rehabilitation fund among the river-erosion-affected families in 2021-2022 fiscal year at Chandpur sadar upazila parishad auditorium on Saturday.  “People who want to confuse religious people are now trying to fish in troubled water ahead of the national election. They want to destabilize the country. That’s why they (BNP-Jamaat-Shibir) are confusing people by spreading a video of wrong information of  a lawmaker,” she said. Also read: Education Minister embarrassed by assault on Rajshahi college principal “There is no scope to take direct legal action against them. In this case, people will have to be conscious and responsible,” she added. Additional deputy commissioner Imtiaz Hossain, additional police superintendent Sudipta Roy were among others present. Dipu Moni, later, inaugurated a weeklong tree plantation fair at Hasan Ali Govt High School ground Also read: SSC, equivalent exams to begin on September 15: Dipu Moni

Chittagong University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shireen Akhter said all the students who were involved in the assault of a female student on the campus will be expelled. She declared it at the 34th annual senate meeting of the university on Saturday. “We are disheartened by the incident and announcing zero tolerance against such crimes. We are trying our best to ensure justice and law enforcers have already detained four people. The offenders will get highest punishment and will be expelled from the university,” she said. Earlier Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained four people including two CU students in connection with the alleged assault that sparked protests on the CU campus. Also read: Four held over CU student assault The detainees were identified as Mohammad Azim, 23, a second year student of History department of CU, Nurul Absar alias Babu, 22, second year student of Anthropology department of CU, Nur Hossain alias Shaon, 22, a first year student of Hathazari Government College, and Masud Rana alias Masud, 22, a second year student of the same college. During questioning, the detainees have confessed to their guilt, said Rab on Saturday. On July 17, a female student was physically assaulted by five youths while she was going to the Botanical Garden from Pritilata Hall of the campus with her friend around 10pm. The goons also captured the incident on video and threatened to make it viral. Later, they fled with the mobile phones and wallets of the two students. Also read: Two of 5 assailants finally identified in CU incident A five-member body was formed to investigate the assault after the female student filed a written complaint to the proctor. A case was also filed under the Women and Children Repression Act accusing five people. On July 19, after the university authorities set the time limit for female students to enter the residential hall before 10 pm after the incident students started a movement against the decision. Since hundreds of CU students have been staging protests, holding human chains every day on the campus demanding justice for the female student who was allegedly harassed.

Dhaka University (DU) on Thursday published the admission test results of the Cha unit under the fine arts faculty. DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman published the results from Abdul Motion Chowdhury virtual classroom in the presence of Fine Arts faculty dean Prof Nisar Hossain.  Read: 8.58% students pass DU 'Gha' unit entry test Of a total of 6,156 examinees, only 241 successful students can now apply for admission against a total of 130 seats. Faria Nowshin Ahmed Apon bagged the first position in the test, scoring 100.5 out of 120. Oishee Rani Mondol secured the second position in the test scoring 98.94, while Mohammad Forhad Ali came third with a score of 98.84. Successful students have time till July 30 to apply for their choice of subject.

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) will host the third session of its Literary Salon Saturday, from 5pm to 7pm, in Dhaka's Dhanmondi to celebrate "Bangladesh's favourite literary passion – short stories." The ULAB Literary Salon will acknowledge Bangladesh's passion for short stories by showcasing three remarkable recent collections – "When the Mango Tree Blossomed" (edited by Niaz Zaman), "Our Many Longings" (edited by Sohana Manzoor) and "Golden Bangladesh at 50" (edited by Shazia Omar). Noted editors and writers Rifat Munim, former Literary Editor at Dhaka Tribune, and Sohana Manzoor literary editor of The Daily Star and associate professor of English at ULAB, will lead the conversation with other writers, including several contributors to these volumes. They will discuss their work and the ever-enriching context of Bangladesh. Read: ULAB Moves Up in WURI’s Global Top 100 Innovative Universities All three collections will be available for display and sale of signed copies at the venue. The Literary Salon, organised by the English and Humanities Department, brings together writers, readers and publishers from Bangladesh and elsewhere in South Asia in an informal, engaging setting. Once a month, each month, the Salon offers Dhaka's literature enthusiasts Saturday evenings of book launches of leading authors, book readings, discussions, book signings, and the sales of books at discounted rates by The Bookworm and ULAB Press, ULAB Lit Salon's partners.

The Freshers’ Reception-2022 for the newly enrolled students of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) was held at the BUP campus on Tuesday. BUP Vice Chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam was present on the occasion as the Chief Guest.  The programme started with a documentary show on BUP. Assistant Professor Md. Main Uddin Reza, Department of Accounting, and Information System briefed on academic aspects of BUP followed by Additional Registrar Lieutenant Colonel Md Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, who gave a speech on administrative aspects.  UP Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Khondoker Mokaddem Hossain congratulated the students for their proud entrance in his welcome speech, says a press release.   In his speech, chief guest Maj Gen Md Mahbub-ul Alam  congratulated the students and their parents for admission in BUP.  Read: Education Minister embarrassed by assault on Rajshahi college principal He informed that BUP is pursuing the kind of education that enables students to understand realities better based on outcome-based education and need-based education.  Maj Gen Md Mahbub-ul Alam  focused on core values like discipline which is given the highest esteemed value in BUP and advised all to have proper management of time to reach their set objectives.  He also mentioned the importance given by BUP on co-curricular and extra-curricular activities through its 21 clubs, and encouraged everyone to join those clubs with a view to interact with peers and faculty members outside the classroom to develop their potential. The chief guest advised all freshers to build good character to become good human beings by refraining from recreational drugs and harassment of others.  Among others, BUP High Officials, Faculty Members and Students were present at the programme.

Education Minister Dipu Moni on Sunday said assault on a college principal allegedly by Awami League lawmaker from Rajshahi-1 constituency Omar Faruk Chowdhury has embarrassed her much. The minister said this while replying to a question from journalists at the secretariat after the announcement of the new schedule for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations. “We don’t have the authority to take action against a parliament member. But we may go the parliament speaker, if needed after getting the probe report over the incident,” she said. Also read: Rajshahi MP, college principal trash media report on assault on teacher by MP On July 7, MP Omar Faruk allegedly physically assaulted Principal of Rajabari Degree College Selim Reza, according to different media reports. The next day, National University formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident. However, on July 14, Omar Faruk Chowdhury and principal Selim Reza both trashed the media reports at a press conference held at the MP’s political office in presence of Abdul Awal Raju, principal of Matikata Degree College and others. Selim Reza said Abdul Awal had called him to visit MP Faruk’s office where he found seven other principals and vice-principals of different colleges after reaching. “Later an altercation began among us over forming principal forum committee and other internal issues.” “MP Omar Faruk had to intervene to stop us, nothing else happened that day,” he said. Also read: SSC, equivalent exams to begin on September 15: Dipu Moni MP Omar Faruk said a syndicate provided false information to create issues and different media presented distorted version the incident of clash among the college teachers. “I mainly called them to exchange Eid greetings but they locked into an argument and principal Selim and Abdul Awal attacked each other which I had to stop,” he added.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations which were postponed due to flood will begin on September 15, Education Minister Dipu Moni said on Sunday. Dipu Moni revealed this information at a press briefing at the Secretariat. “We wanted to begin the examinations in mid-August,  but we have decided to defer the exams to September as there is a possibility another spell of flood in the country in August,” she said. The examinations will be held in a short time, said Dipu. Talking about the flood situation in Sylhet, the minister said, “Still there are some problems in some educational institutions in Sylhet and we will be able to provide textbooks to the students of the flood-hit districts by July 24.” A total of 683 sets of textbooks will be distributed in Sylhet while 10,586 books in Sunamganj, she said. Referring to Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations, the minister said the HSC examinations will begin in November. “We will be able to begin the SSC exams from February in 2023,” she hoped. The SSC and its equivalent examinations under all the education boards scheduled to begin on June 19 were postponed due to the flood situation in the country on June 17. Earlier, it was deferred for about four months because of the coronavirus pandemic. Usually, the SSC exams take place in February. Read: SSC exam postponed for worsening flood On July 6, Dipu Moni said the students of the flood-hit areas who lost their textbooks will be given new books. Once the distribution of books is completed, the students need a little time to prepare themselves for the exams, she added. The government will hold the postponed SSC exams only after handing over textbooks to flood victim students, the minister added.  

The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia have invited international students to apply for admission into any of its thirty-six undergraduate programmes under its 2021-22 academic session. A press release, signed by IU international affairs division director Professor Dr Shahadat Hossain Azad, was issued in this regard on Friday.  A total of 30 students are expected to be enrolled in the 2021-22 academic session. Read:UGC allocates nearly Tk 160 cr for Islamic University The university authorities will admit students from Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Srilanka, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Cambodia and Indonesia. The applicant must have completed a twelve-year education (e.g. A-Level in the British education system) not before 2020, and must have secured a CGPA of 3.5 on a scale of 5 or 3 on a scale of 4 in  both O-Level and A-Level or equivalent examinations. More information regarding the admission procedure is available on the university website at www.iu.ac.bd, the press release added.

The schedule of the postponed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be announced two weeks after distribution of textbooks among the students in the flood-hit districts, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Wednesday. There have been extensive damages due to the recent devastating flood and it was not possible to save the textbooks in the flood area, she told the reporters at the Secretariat. “We need to ascertain how many books will be needed in these areas first. If necessary we will print textbooks.” Once  the distribution of books is completed, the students need a little time to prepare themselves for the exams she added. Read: Floods in the northeast throw over 4.55 lakh students in Sylhet div into uncertainty The SSC and its equivalent examinations, under all the education boards scheduled to begin on June 19, were postponed due to the flood situation in the country on June 17. About the rapid surge of Covid-19, the minister said if they can vaccinate the students below 12, they will keep the educational institutions open. “At this moment, schools will not be closed. Decision will be taken seeing the situation.”