United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission for the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) has cancelled the candidacy of Amartya Roy, the vice-president (VP) candidate from the "Sampritir Oikya" panel, ahead of the long-awaited JUCSU elections scheduled for September 11. The decision was announced in a press release signed by Chief Election Commissioner Dr Moniruzzaman on Saturday afternoon. According to the statement, Amartya Roy, a resident of AFM Kamaluddin Hall and a student of the Department of Archaeology from the 2017–18 academic year, was declared ineligible to be a voter and candidate under Sections 4 and 8 of the JUCSU constitution. Chhatra Dal seeks temporary ban on DU Facebook pages ahead of DUCSU polls When contacted, Amartya Roy said, “I cannot make a formal statement yet. Discussions are ongoing within our panel. We are consulting with all concerned and will proceed in a manner that reflects the students' best interests.” He added that he will act in accordance with the University Act and JUCSU Election Commission rules. “I will provide further details once a final decision is made,” he said. In response to a question about whether he would file a writ petition in the High Court, Roy said, “We are not considering that at the moment. However, we will speak with everyone involved and make a decision that benefits all.” Amartya Roy is the immediate past president of the Bangladesh Student Union JU Sangsad and a student of the 47th batch of the Department of Archaeology at JU. Two shot in JP-Gono Adhikar clash at Bijoynagar The upcoming JUCSU election marks the first student union polls at the university in 33 years. The Election Commission has confirmed that seven panels, including independent candidates, will contest the polls.

A day-long Global Studies Olympiad was held on Saturday at the Rangpur Cantt Public School and College auditorium with the participation of around 1,000 students from classes 3 to 10. Students from 17 government and private institutions across Rangpur took part in the event, aiming to build a prosperous and developed Bangladesh through educational competition. The programme was inaugurated at 10 am by Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal. In his speech, DC Rabiul said the initiative would encourage students to seek knowledge and help shape a brighter future for the country. The event was presided over by Ashraful Alam Al Amin, Chairman of Teesta University and advisor to the Global Studies Olympiad. Special guests included poet, essayist, and educationist Monalisa Rahman; senior correspondent of Jamuna Television and Naya Diganta, Sarkar Mazharul Mannan, who is also General Secretary of Rangpur Journalists Union (RPUJ) and Rangpur Reporters Club; founder of Rangpur Musical Brand Association Ajay Nath; and Mizanur Rahman Mizan, founder and headmaster of Shibram Smriti Pre-Cadet School and College. The welcome address was delivered by Muiz Mubarrat, an 11th-grade student at Rangpur Cantt Public School and College and founder of the Global Studies Olympiad, along with Shoaib Haque Shibati, CEO of the Olympiad. The Olympiad began with a one-hour written competition and IQ test, conducted in three categories covering both national and international affairs. The tests were evaluated using OMR sheets. Following the results, 30 students were awarded medals, crests, and a total of Tk 30,000 in prize money across the three categories. Additional Police Commissioner Naresh Chakma said, “We must focus on academic competitions. Initiatives like this should continue to inspire students.”

Seven students of Barishal University (BU) began a hunger strike on campus Thursday night, pressing for the fulfillment of their three-point charter of demands. In a rare gesture of solidarity, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Taufiq Alam spent the night with the protesting students, lying beside them around 1 am Friday to show support and help maintain a peaceful environment. The VC also held discussions with the demonstrators, saying, “We are doing our best to meet the students' reasonable demands. The progress will be made public within the next week.” However, the students declared they would continue their hunger strike until all demands are met. The protest entered a new phase on the 37th day of their ongoing movement, which centers around three key demands: the urgent improvement of the university's infrastructure, expansion of the campus to meet growing academic needs, and resolution of the persistent transportation crisis. The students who started the hunger strike are Sharmila Zaman Senjuti from the English Department, Amiya Mandal from the Mass Communication and Journalism Department (2022–23 session), Tajul Islam from the Accounting and Information Systems Department (2021–22 session), Abubakar Siddique from the Chemistry Department (2022–23 session), Piyal Hasan from the Philosophy Department (2021–22 session), Tamim Ahmed Riaz from the Public Administration Department (2021–22 session), and Shawkat Osman Sakkhar from the Law Department. Shawkat Osman Sakkhar, one of the students on hunger strike, said that although they have been protesting for a long time with reasonable demands, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has not tried to contact them even once. That is why they were forced to start a hunger strike.

Academic classes and examinations at Dhaka University will remain suspended only on September 9 on the occasion of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, said the authorities. Chief Returning Officer of the election Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin said this at a press conference on the campus on Wednesday evening. Earlier, all classes and exams from September 7 to 10 had been suspended for the election. However, following demands from the candidates, the suspension for the other days has been canceled. Normal academic activities will continue on all days except September 9. Prof Jasim said that some students had expressed concern about the number of polling centres and voting time. To reduce inconvenience, the number of booths at each polling centre has been increased. No classes, exams at DU from Sept 7 to 10 for Ducsu polls Voting time has also been extended, allowing eight minutes per voter, said the chief returning officer. Around 40,000 voters are eligible to cast ballots. Polling will continue uninterrupted from 8am to 4pm, ensuring that anyone present within the time frame can cast their vote, he added.

Dhaka University authorities have expelled a student for six months after he allegedly threatened to gang-rape a female student who had filed a writ petition in the High Court regarding the upcoming DUCSU elections. Ali Hossain, a student of the Sociology Department, was expelled following the recommendation of the Proctorial Fact-Finding Committee formed to probe the incident. Teachers demand exemplary punishment in ‘gang rape’ threat to DUCSU petitioner University sources said the penalty was the maximum punishment the proctor could impose under existing regulations. In addition, the complaint against Ali Hossain has been forwarded to the university’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee for further action. DUCSU election: high court drama, student protests, bullying of women key issue Earlier on Tuesday, the university formed two separate committees to investigate the matter -- one by the DUCSU Election Commission and another by the proctorial team. Meanwhile, the University Teachers’ Network (UTN), a forum of university teachers, has demanded exemplary punishment for Ali Hossain. At a press conference in front of Madhur Canteen on Tuesday, UTN members also placed a 13-point demand before the university administration concerning the DUCSU election. DUCSU: At DU, wave of anger at High Court verdict before stay by chamber judge calms nerves

A six-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the recent unrest at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), including the reported confinement of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan and nearly 250 teachers inside an auditorium for nearly eight hours and incidents of vandalism. The committee was constituted on Tuesday on the directive of BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. AKM Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan, according to an official order signed by Acting Registrar Agriculturist Dr. Helal Uddin. Professor Md. Rafiqul Islam Sardar, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and President of the BAU Teachers' Association, has been appointed as the head of the committee. Dr. Md. Manjur Hossain, Deputy Registrar of Establishment Branch-2, will serve as the member secretary. Ongoing deadlock at universities to be resolved soon: Education Adviser Other members of the committee are Prof Dr. Mohammad Golzarul Aziz, Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Prof Dr. Kazi Farhad Qadir, Prof Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman Khan, Department of Agricultural Finance and Banking, Muh. Enamul Haque, Additional Chief Engineer, Public Works Department-1. The committee has been instructed to submit its findings and recommendations as soon as possible. According to the order, the unrest stems from a memorandum submitted on August 7 by students of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Faculty, demanding a combined degree to enhance their job prospects. DUCSU: At DU, wave of anger at High Court verdict before stay by chamber judge calms nerves In response, the Vice Chancellor formed a separate committee on August 12 to address the issue. The recommendations from that committee were presented at an emergency Academic Council meeting on August 31, attended by 251 faculty members. Based on those recommendations, the council unanimously decided to award three degrees, aiming to meet the students’ demands and resolve the issue.

The English Club of Notre Dame University Bangladesh (NDUB) organised an inter-university cultural and literary competition titled “Light Within the Masquerade” on Tuesday at the university campus. Students from various universities across the country participated in this vibrant and colourful event, according to a press release. Renowned National Film Award-winning actor and President of Actors’ Equity Bangladesh, Shahiduzzaman Selim, was present as the chief guest. Special guests included Dr Fr Charles B. Gordon, CSC, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of NDUB, and Prof Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, Head of the Department of English. Shahiduzzaman Selim said this is a significant student-led event that reflects the growing cultural and literary enthusiasm among the youth. “Such programmes encourage creativity, imagination, and artistic sensibility. I believe this competition will remain a memorable and inspiring experience for both participants and audiences alike,” he added. The competition featured diverse segments including poetry, short stories, debate, drama, acting, and musical performances, providing students with a platform to showcase their talents and creativity. The organisers said that the primary aim of the event was to promote literary appreciation, cultural awareness, and creative expression among young people. The day-long programme concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, where winners were awarded for their outstanding performances. The organisers also announced plans to expand the scale of the competition in the coming years.

The ongoing deadlock in the country’s educational institutions will be resolved soon, Education Adviser CR Abrar has said. Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he described the situation as ‘unfortunate’ and confirmed that the education ministry is taking the matter seriously. He said that the ministry is concerned and is closely monitoring the developments. “We believe the problems can be solved through discussion," he said. "All necessary support will be provided by the education ministry to bring things back to normal." The adviser also said that unwanted incidents in several universities are disrupting education. "No one wants this kind of situation. But we are confident it will be resolved soon through dialogue," he added.

After a day of drama in court, the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election remains on course to be held on September 9. The court had given a verdict to postpone the election. In response, students and leaders-activists of various organizations of Dhaka University held protests over the matter. Eventually, based on a petition by lawyer Shishir Manir, the Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court suspended the High Court’s order. As a result, there is no longer any obstacle to holding the DUCSU election on September 9. As soon as the news of the election postponement had come to light, students from various dormitories brought out protest processions. They chanted slogans like “DUCSU is my right, who has the power to stop it”; “1-2-3-4, DUCSU is my right”, etc. Reacting to the situation, the ‘Oikyoboddho Shikkarti Jhot’, the panel backed by Islami Chhatra Shibir, held an immediate press conference. After that, they held a protest march around the campus and a rally at the VC Chattar. DUCSU GS candidate SM Farhad from Shibir's panel said "Students' right, DUCSU, will happen on the 9th September. All conspiracies will be foiled." He added, “This verdict should not have been to postpone DUCSU. When you don't give a specific ruling — whether SM Farhad can run or not — and instead move toward cancelling DUCSU, then it must be understood that the one who filed the writ had prepared in advance; the lawyer, the patroniser of the matter — all are part of this conspiracy.” Farhad further said, “I urge students that those involved with this writ, those not giving a to-the-point verdict but heading directly to sabotage DUCSU — we will mark them, and on the 9th September, students will show them the red card.” VP candidate Shadik Kayem said, “A group has tried to create instability on different campuses. They are plotting to shut down all student unions including DUCSU. We must be alert. Those who are conspiring must be resisted. DUCSU elections — the dream of students — will take place on time.” The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal also held a protest march around the campus and a rally in front of Aparajeyo Bangla. At the rally, VP candidate from the Chhatra Dal panel Abidul Islam Khan said, “We want to make it clear — DUCSU election will be held on the 9th September.” Addressing the DU administration and DUCSU Election Commission, he said, “You’ve arranged an election that left various loopholes to stop it.” About the writ filed in the High Court by the Liberation War and Democratic Movement Secretary candidate from Aparajeyo 71, Odommo 24 panel, Fahmida Alam, challenging SM Farhad’s candidacy, he said, “Farhad never resigned from his post in Chhatra League before or after August 5. Even though all Chhatra League post-holders have been disqualified, he’s being kept. You (DU administration) are playing a joke?” “For the DUCSU writ, this university administration appointed Shishir Manir as lawyer. This administration stands on our blood. You were not placed here to represent any political party.” He added, “We’ve submitted repeated complaints about DUCSU’s code of conduct, but the Election Commission took no steps. Everyone be warned. Maintain neutrality.” Meanwhile, Abdul Kader, VP candidate from the ‘Boishommo Birodhi Shikkarti Sangsad’ panel backed by Bangladesh Ganatantrick Chhatra Sangsad, said, “The decision to hold DUCSU should come from Dhaka University, not the High Court.” He said this at an emergency press conference in front of the DUCSU building. He said, “The DUCSU election was supposed to happen right after August 5, but even after nearly a year, it didn’t. Finally, the administration announced September 9. But still, the conspiracy to derail DUCSU hasn’t ended. Today’s conspiracy — students have responded by showing the red card.” He further said, “Just to cancel one person’s candidacy, the entire DUCSU was tried to be sabotaged through the writ. What we feared is happening. Various mechanisms were introduced to demotivate students regarding DUCSU.” DMP commissioner warns against any trouble to disrupt DUCSU polls In addition, a press conference was held by the ‘Sotontra Shikkarti Oikkyo’ panel. VP candidate Umama Fatema from the panel said, “Over the past few days, campuses have been turning unstable. After incidents at Chittagong University and Agricultural University, today there was a declaration to stop DUCSU elections. We believe this is part of the same series of conspiracies.” She said, “In recent days, students from various universities were collecting nomination papers, announcing panels, and the DUCSU election was nearing. A hopeful democratic environment was prevailing among students across the country.” “Yesterday, Chittagong University and Agricultural University were heated up. And today, with the declaration of election suspension, an attempt was made to heat up DU. From this, we understand — a certain force is trying in various ways to destabilize campuses. Those behind the CU incident are the same ones trying to sabotage DUCSU,” said Umama.

Amid rising tension on campus, the authorities of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have announced the university’s closure for an indefinite period. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the university's syndicate on Sunday night.Students have been instructed to vacate all residential halls by 9 am on Monday, according to a notice issued by the university administration. The move comes in the wake of recent unrest and student protests surrounding academic demands and a reported attack on students by outsiders. At least four students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) were injured in an alleged attack by a group of outsiders on Sunday evening, during a protest in which students had confined Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan and nearly 250 teachers for over five hours, demanding the introduction of a single combined degree. The incident took place near the Zainul Abedin Auditorium, a central location within the university premises. The identities of the injured students could not be confirmed immediately. Eyewitnesses said the attackers were not students of BAU and entered the campus unlawfully. Following the attack, the students dispersed, allowing Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan and the confined teachers to be released.