United News of Bangladesh

The launching ceromony of a new Young Learner English Centre at International Hope School Bangladesh (IHSB), Uttara campus was held on Saturday on its premise in the city.  The British Council has expanded its English language teaching network with the school which is the first and only school in the country that the council are partnering with. Head of Primary Section of IHSB Nazmun Nahar said the new centre at International Hope School Bangladesh, Uttara campus, is expected to become a vibrant hub for children and teenagers eager to improve their English in an engaging and supportive environment. Emphasising the school’s commitment to holistic education and global readiness, Principal Roksana Zarin said the importance of English proficiency is a must for academic success and future opportunities. She also stressed that the English Language Center will provide a structured, internationally recognized curriculum and enhance students’ confidence in communication, prepare young learners for global competitiveness. Chairman of Stirling Education (parent organization of International Hope School Bangladesh) Timothy Donald Fisher focused on the strategic partnership with British Council Bangladesh. Mentioning that the programme will bring world-class teaching standards to the school premises, he said the centre will offer certifications recognized worldwide, adding value to students’ profiles and strengthen the school’s reputation as a forward-thinking institution.   Stephen Forbes, Country Director Bangladesh, British Council said the day marks the beginning of a new partnership; one rooted in a shared belief: that strong English skills open doors to opportunity, confidence, and a world of connections. Together, the British Council and International Hope School are launching this new English Language Centre to give young learners those very tools. The centre has been established to provide children and teenagers aged 7–17 with greater access to high-quality English learning in northern Dhaka, complementing the existing Fuller Road centre in the south-central part of the city. This initiative addresses families' demand for shorter commutes and improved accessibility. Led by Cambridge-qualified teachers, the British Council's courses for young learners are designed to spark creativity and imagination while developing strong communication skills. Parents will also receive structured updates to track their child's progress and celebrate learning milestones. For over 90 years, the British Council has supported peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between the UK and countries worldwide. Through its education, arts, culture and language programmes, it empowers learners of all ages to enhance their academic, professional and personal growth.  

People from all walks of life paid their last tribute to eminent writer, essayist, and Emeritus Professor of the English Department at Dhaka University Syed Manzoorul Islam at Aparajeyo Bangla of Dhaka University and the Central Shaheed Minar on Saturday. The body of Manzoorul Islam was taken to Aparajeyo Bangla of Dhaka University at around 10:30 am and then it was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar for people of all walks of life to pay their last respects. At Aparajeyo Bangla, Chairperson of English Department Professor Dr. Tazin Aziz Chaudhury, former and current students of the English Department, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof D. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, and teachers and students of various departments, among others, paid tributes by placing wreaths on his coffin. Former Industries Minister Nurul Majid no more His namaz-e-janaza will be held at Dhaka University Central Mosque after Zohr prayers and then he will be buried at the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur. Professor Syed Manzoorul Islam passed away on Friday afternoon. He was 74. Prof Manzoorul Islam breathed his last at 5:00 pm while undergoing treatment at LabAid Hospital in the capital. Last Friday, Professor Islam had suffered a massive heart attack while on his way to the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).  

Fifty students from the 59th batch of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) have secured internship placements in six countries across Asia and Europe. The announcement came at the inauguration of the faculty’s 22nd internship program, held Friday at the Syed Nazrul Islam Auditorium on the BAU campus. According to the faculty, 33 students will go to Thailand, 10 to Malaysia, two to Japan, three to Indonesia, one to Germany, and one to Nepal. The rest will complete their internships at 12 different locations across Bangladesh. BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. A K Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan attended as chief guest, while Mr. Jayanta Dutta Gupta, General Manager of Square Pharmaceuticals’ Agrovet and Crop Care Division, was present as special guest. Prof. Dr. Md. Bahanur Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, chaired the event. Prof. Bhuiyan told students, “When you go abroad, you carry the name of BAU with you. Behave responsibly and uphold the university’s reputation.” He said the internship program now gives students hands-on exposure in real-world settings-both in Bangladesh and abroad. A total of 193 students from the faculty will join internships this year at 12 local and international institutions.  

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal staged a demonstration at Islamic University in Kushtia on Friday, alleging that members of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League were involved in a teacher recruitment examination. The protesters demanded a fascism-free and merit-based recruitment process, claiming that partisan influence was undermining fairness in university appointments. The demonstration began around 10am in front of the Ibn Sina Academic Building, minutes before the written test for teacher recruitment of the Law and Land Management department was set to begin. Earlier, representatives of Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Union, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement held a meeting with the university administration. Following the discussion, JCD leaders submitted a written memorandum to the vice-chancellor. In the memorandum, the JCD alleged that during the Folklore Studies department recruitment test held on Thursday, a candidate named Rakibul Islam Rakib—reportedly linked to the banned Chhatra League—was allowed to participate. They termed it an ‘insult to the spirit of the July Movement’ and the sacrifices of its martyrs. The statement also said that the Law and Land Management department held its recruitment exams (written and viva) on Friday, with candidates allegedly tied to the Chhatra League also taking part. IU vice-chancellor Professor Nakib Muhammad Nasrullah, pro-vice-chancellor Professor M Yeaqub Ali, acting registrar Professor Manjurul Haque, and proctor Professor Shahinuzzaman, along with JCD convener Sahed Ahmed, the member secretary, senior joint convener, and other student leaders were present during the meeting. JCD convener Sahed alleged that Rakibul, a known Chhatra League activist, was among those who passed the Folklore Studies department recruitment test. "He’s long been associated with the Chhatra League and acted as one of its key funders. It seems efforts are underway to rehabilitate the banned group at IU," he said. Despite their written complaint, the university administration continued with the exams, he added. In response, IU VC said that candidates were selected purely on merit. "Anyone qualified could sit for the test, regardless of political views. Recruitment will be based solely on written, viva, and academic performance," he said. The written exam for the Law and Land Management department, originally scheduled for 10:00am, began an hour late, around 11:00am, drawing frustration among candidates.

With the theme “The Mighty Egg: Packed with Natural Nutrition”, World Egg Day 2025 was celebrated across Bangladesh on Friday with vibrant programs and enthusiastic participation from people of all walks of life. The Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC), World’s Poultry Science Association-Bangladesh Branch, along with various government and non-government livestock organizations, and livestock-related degree-awarding universities including Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University observed the day through colorful rallies, award ceremonies, poster presentations, and free egg distribution programs. At BAU, the Faculty of Veterinary Science distributed a total of 2,500 eggs. Of these, 1,000 eggs were donated to three orphanages- Al Manar Orphanage and two others in Char Nilakshia while another 500 will be distributed at two local schools on Sunday. The rest were handed out to students, pedestrians, and day laborers in front of the faculty gate. Rickshaw-puller Md Shafik expressed his delight, saying, “We work hard every day, but it’s not always possible to buy eggs. Getting free eggs today really made me happy. If programs like this happened more often, it would help people like us a lot.” BAU student Arafat Hossain said, “An egg isn’t just food, it’s a source of strength. I feel proud to be part of this program. Everyone should eat at least one egg a day.” To recognize significant contributions to egg production and poultry farming in Bangladesh, two entrepreneurs and one farmer were honored by the Faculty of Veterinary Science. The awardees are Dr. Mohammad Kamruzzaman Masud, Chairman of VNF Agro Ltd; Dr. Md Shahadat Hossain, Proprietor of S.S. Agrovet; and Md. Alamgir Kabir, a poultry farmer from Muktagacha. Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Prof. Dr. Md. Bahanur Rahman, said, “Eggs are nature’s complete food, rich in nearly all essential nutrients. They not only provide energy but also ensure the health of people of all ages- from children to the elderly. Eating an egg every day means ensuring nutritional security for oneself and one’s family. That’s the message we want to spread through this celebration.” Since 1996, World Egg Day has been observed worldwide on the second Friday of October to promote awareness about the nutritional benefits of eggs, highlight their role in meeting protein demand, and contribute to building a healthy and intelligent nation.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) has once again been named among Bangladesh’s leading higher education institutions, jointly securing the top position in the country according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026. The UK-based organisation, in collaboration with Elsevier Journal, released the rankings on Thursday (9 October), evaluating universities globally based on teaching, research environment, research quality, industry impact, and international outlook. This year, five Bangladeshi universities were placed in the 801–1000 bracket worldwide. Alongside Jahangirnagar University, the list includes the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh Agricultural University in Gazipur, Daffodil International University, and North South University. The THE World University Rankings 2026 features a total of 3,118 universities worldwide. Of these, 28 institutions from Bangladesh appeared on the list, with 19 receiving direct rankings and nine recognised as ‘reporters’. Times Higher Edu Ranking: Dhaka University climbs 200 places Globally, the top five universities remain the University of Oxford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton University, the University of Cambridge, and Harvard University. Earlier, on 23 April, THE published its Asia University Rankings 2025, where Jahangirnagar University was placed in the 351–400 bracket among Asian universities and jointly held the top position in Bangladesh with the same four institutions. The repeated recognition highlights Jahangirnagar University’s continued strength in research, teaching, and its expanding global presence.  

The authority of Jagannath University (JnU) has arranged four buses to facilitate the transportation of students appearing in the 49th BCS Preliminary Examination, scheduled for Friday (October 10). Dr. Tarek Bin Atik, Transport Administrator of the university and Associate Professor in the Department of Islamic Studies, said the buses will depart from in front of the university’s Central Shaheed Minar at around 7am on the exam day. NTC shortens foundation training for BCS cadre officers He mentioned that the transport pool has taken the initiative to help students reach their examination centres smoothly and on time. “We wish them the best of success,” he added. The four designated routes and drivers are as follows: Route 1: Jagannath University – Farmgate – Mirpur – Jagannath UniversityDriver: Milon Hawlader – 01634325982 Route 2: Jagannath University – Azimpur – Nilkhet – Asad Gate – Shyamoli – Kallyanpur – Jagannath UniversityDriver: Omar Ali – 01718870456 Route 3: Jagannath University – Malibagh – Mouchak – Jagannath UniversityDriver: Monir Hossain Hawlader – 01773776532 Route 4: Jagannath University – Jatrabari – Demra – Jagannath UniversityDriver: Jagdish Kumar Das – 01716117768    

The constitution of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Central Students’ Union (SUCSU) has been revised, setting 23 posts for the central council and 9 posts for the hall councils. The university syndicate’s committee finalized the constitution for the SUCSU on Wednesday (October 8) afternoon. The development was confirmed by Md. Eshak Mia, convener of the constitution revision committee and director of Student Guidance and Counseling. Among the 23 central council posts are vice president (VP), general secretary (GS), assistant general secretary (AGS), sports secretary, assistant sports secretary, literature and annual magazine secretary, cultural secretary, liberation war and democratic movement secretary, religion and harmony secretary, social service secretary, female affairs secretary (for female students only), health and environment secretary, education, research and career development secretary, information and technology secretary, international affairs secretary, transport secretary, cafeteria and canteen secretary, and law and human rights secretary. In addition, there are five member posts in the central council. The hall councils will have 9 posts, including VP, GS, AGS, sports secretary, literature and cultural secretary, and social service secretary, along with three member posts. 1 SUST student expelled, 24 suspended  over ragging Under the previous constitution, the central council had 19 posts. Four new posts, including liberation war and democratic movement secretary and religion and harmony secretary, have been added. Previously, there were no hall councils. The constitution was passed at the 237th syndicate meeting on September 25. However, the syndicate formed a committee to review it further. The committee finalized the constitution on October 8 and submitted it. According to Vice-Chancellor A.M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury, it was scheduled to be handed over to the election commission by October 12, but the university authorities have not yet formed the election commission.  

More than 150 Bangladeshi alumni of Japan-funded scholarship programmes convened in Dhaka on Thursday for the first-ever joint alumni gathering, celebrating decades of educational collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh. The event — hosted by the Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Programme (ADB–JSP) and the ADB Bangladesh Resident Mission — was organised in close cooperation with Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank. The milestone gathering brought together key stakeholders and alumni to reflect on the transformative impact of education, foster stronger international partnerships, and reaffirm their shared commitment to building a knowledge-based, poverty-free society, according to a press release from ADB. Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Shinichi Saida attended the event as a distinguished guest, along with JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Tomohide Ichiguchi, ADB Executive Director for Japan Shigeo Shimizu, and ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong, among others. “We take pride in seeing that Japan-funded scholarships, particularly through the ADB–JSP, have empowered scholars to become leaders,” said ADB Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong. “As alumni continue to apply their knowledge and skills, they contribute to advancing socioeconomic development throughout Asia and the Pacific. The Japan-funded scholarship programmes remain committed to supporting human capital development and reducing poverty.” Speakers at the event highlighted the achievements of alumni who are driving positive change in their respective sectors and communities, underscoring the transformative power of education and international collaboration. Bangladesh is among the top recipients of Japan-funded scholarships, reflecting its strong commitment to higher education and global engagement. Each year, the ADB–JSP alone awards around 135 graduate scholarships for studies in economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields.    

Dhaka University (DU) has advanced 200 places to fall within the 801–1000 range in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2026. Last year, the university was ranked within the 1001–1200 bracket. The UK-based renowned educational magazine published the ranking on Thursday on its official website. Dhaka University ranked top among the universities in Bangladesh. A total of 3,118 universities worldwide were evaluated for the ranking, based on indicators such as teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry collaboration. According to the indicator-based scores, DU’s research environment improved by 3 points (10.3 → 13.3), research quality rose by 9.3 points (67.2 → 76.5), and industry collaboration increased by 11.8 points (21.4 → 33.2). The university scored 17.7 in teaching and 45 in international outlook.