United News of Bangladesh

A four-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the incident in which a hijab was placed on the female figure of the Raju sculpture at Dhaka University. The incident occurred late Sunday night when unidentified individuals draped a hijab over one of the female figures of the iconic Raju sculpture. The act has raised concerns over campus security and the university's response to such actions. Those responsible for the act have not yet been identified. DU-affiliated college students block Nilkhet, Newmarket intersections Upon being informed, University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmad dispatched two assistant proctors—Muhammad Rafiqul Islam and Md. Rabiul Islam—to inspect the site around 1 pm on Monday. Assistant Proctor Muhammad Rafiqul Islam said, "We visited the Raju sculpture and saw that the hijab had already been removed. As of now, we do not know who is responsible for this incident." He assured that the authorities are investigating the matter and will review CCTV footage from the area. "Those involved will be identified through a thorough examination of the CCTV footage," he added. Additionally, he confirmed that a four-member committee has been set up to investigate the incident in detail. "The footage will be sent to relevant agencies for further analysis," he noted.

A group of students from seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University blocked the Nilkhet and Newmarket intersections in the capital today, demanding the cessation of their affiliation with Dhaka University and autonomy of the colleges. Beginning at 10 am, students from the seven colleges gathered at Dhaka College and staged a protest on the campus, chanting slogans in support of their demand for autonomy. Students of 7 DU-affiliated colleges stage protest blocking Nilkhet Around 11 am, they exited the campus and blocked the Science Laboratory and Nilkhet crossings. During the demonstration, the protesting students expressed their frustrations, saying they have faced numerous problems due to their affiliation with Dhaka University. They specifically cited discrimination in the exam evaluation system. The students declared they would not leave the road until their demands were met and would not participate in any examinations or attend classes. Mohammad Tahsin, a student of Dhaka College, told UNB that students from the DU-affiliated colleges have faced long-standing discrimination. "We do not want to be placed under the National University. We seek an independent platform free from this disparity, and it could take the form of a new university." He continued, "We have a severe shortage of classroom space and other facilities, and our teachers face limitations. They instruct us according to their capacity, which does not match our needs. However, Dhaka University’s teachers evaluate our papers, creating an imbalance that affects our results. Furthermore, the bureaucratic issues at the DU register building exacerbate our struggles. We want to be rid of these problems." "We will end the blockade if the authorities promise to form a committee or commission to establish the seven colleges as an independent entity," he added. Rahatul Islam, a student from Kabi Nazrul Islam Government College, said that they have approached various authorities over the years, but no one has paid attention to their demands. As a result, they felt they had no option but to stage this protest. "We understand that many people and passersby are suffering due to our actions on the roads, but we are not responsible for this. The education adviser and the DU vice-chancellor are accountable for this public suffering," he asserted. It is worth noting that the blockade has caused severe traffic congestion in the New Market and Nilkhet areas.

Dhaka Education Board Chairman Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar has resigned. Prof Tapan said he submitted his resignation letter to Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department Secretary. Earlier on Sunday night, he announced his resignation after a section of HSC examinees besieged the board office remanding re-evaluation. A group of students under the banner of ‘HSC-Batch 2024’ entered the Dhaka Education Board premises and staged a demonstration opposing the HSC results terming it ‘discriminatory’. Terming the results as discriminatory the students demanded the government to publish the results through mapping of all subjects. On October 15, the results of HSC and its equivalent examinations were published.

Several students were injured in an attack allegedly by some staff of Dhaka Education Board when they were staging demonstration protesting the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations through subject mapping. Witnesses said a group of students under the banner of ‘HSC-Batch 2024’ entered the Dhaka Education Board premises and staged demonstration opposing the HSC results terming it ‘discriminatory’. Four of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Protests grip Begum Rokeya University over teasing of female student by outsiders Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, Chairman of Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, said the students who failed to pass the examinations were staging protests.  

Eight people were injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur on Saturday. Abdul Gafur, officer in charge of Birganj Police Station, confirmed the matter. Four injured during BNP factional clash in Gazipur The injured are BNP Municipal Committee Vice-President Habibur Rahman Hablu, Chhatra Dal Leader Mahfuzur Rahman Babu, and Swechhasebak Dal members Sujan Ali, Babu, Ekram Ali, Salim Reza, Tanvir Chowdhury, and Akash Chowdhury. Five of the injured have been admitted to Birganj Upazila Health Complex and Dinajpur Medical College Hospital. The confrontation began around 4:00 pm centring on a rally of Sujalpur Union Committee No. 5 of Juba Dal, where supporters of BNP upazila committee leader Manjurul Islam Manjur clashed with those of general secretary Zakir Hossain Dhalu. In response to the attack, both groups marched through the city with sticks. Efforts are being made to de-escalate the situation and maintain law and order, said the OC. Following the clash, tensions remain high in the area. BNP factional clash leaves two brothers dead in Narail Additionally, two factions of the Phulbari Upazila BNP also clashed, chanting slogans against one another.

Although 20 are still vacant admission aspirants at Jahangirnagar University (JU) are unable to secure a spot, as the university administration has stopped the admission process ahead of the start of classes for the 2023-24 academic session on October 20, leaving hopeful students frustrated. According to the JU admissions office, the fifth merit list was published on September 15, yet 20 seats in various faculties remain unfilled. In the ‘A’ unit, male students up to merit position 2158 get admission, leaving six seats vacant. Similarly, female students up to rank 659 were admitted, with six more seats still open. In the ‘C’ unit's science division, female students up to rank 199 have been admitted, but two seats are yet to be filled. Times Higher Education Ranking: NSU is among top 5 universities in Bangladesh One of the hopefuls, Ummey Hani, ranked 202nd in the merit list, is waiting for a chance. "If the sixth merit list is published, I will be able to secure one of the vacant seats," she said. "I've taken the admission test for JU twice, and now, despite vacant seats, we are not being given the chance to study. Leaving these seats empty doesn't make sense, and it's disappointing." Hani, alongside several other students, visited the campus on September 17, 18, and 19 to discuss the matter with the university's admissions office. Syed Ali Reza, head of the admissions office, said they were informed that no further admission would be accepted. The group was directed to meet the Vice Chancellor, but their request for a meeting was denied. Sheikh Kahrooba Munira Mughdha, ranked 663rd in the 'A' unit merit list, expressed similar frustration. "Despite vacant seats, we are being denied admission," she said. "I waited outside the Vice Chancellor's office, hoping for a solution, but was met with hostility from the staff." Syed Ali Reza explained that the initial class start date was July 21 but was deferred to September 30 due to student protests, leaving 50 seats vacant. Even after publishing the fifth merit list, around 20 seats remained unfilled. "We decided to conclude the admission process in accordance with the central admission committee's decision to avoid complications for students and faculty," he said. Classes resume at Chittagong University after three months Reza added that some students withdrew from their courses, triggering automatic subject migration, which caused confusion and administrative challenges. "Since 2018, we have concluded admissions before classes begin, even if seats remain vacant, to avoid further complications," he noted. However, many students believe that the university staff's reluctance to work is the real reason for ending the admission process prematurely. Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman acknowledged flaws in the admission process, attributing it to the unit-based exam system. "Previously, students took exams for specific subjects, but now they are being assigned subjects they didn't opt for. This mismatch leads to many students leaving, and every year, 150-200 seats remain vacant after classes begin. If the subject-specific exams were reinstated, the situation would improve, and it would be easier to fill the vacancies from the waiting list," he said.

Prof Dr Md Alimul Islam, a professor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), has been appointed as new vice chancellor (VC) of Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU). A notification, signed by Mst. Rokshana Begum, deputy secretary at scholarship and engineering universities section under the Ministry of Education, was issued in this regard on Thursday. Dr Alimul, a faculty member at Microbiology and Hygiene department of the BAU, has been appointed upon approval by the President and Chancellor of the university following section 10 (1) of the SAU Act-2006. He completed graduation and post-graduation from Veterinary faculty of the BAU and did his PhD from the same university. The microbiologist also earned his post-doctorate from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Japan. According to the university, he has 183 national and international scientific publications.

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has suspended Dr. Md. Harun-or-Rashid, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, allegedly for sexually harassing a Malaysian female student. BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan confirmed the matter on Wednesday. According to university sources, Dr. Md. Harun-or-Rashid was suspended based on the report and recommendations of the investigation committee presented at an urgent syndicate meeting held on Monday afternoon. BAU students can now submit complaints online and offline as university seeks to address past misconduct The professor was served a show-cause notice and asked to respond within10 days. The syndicate also decided to investigate incidents of violence against women and sexual harassment in different times. Meanwhile, various organizations, including the Legal Aid Sub-Committee of the Bangladesh Women's Council and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, demanded appropriate punishment based on thorough investigation. Besides, the Malaysian Embassy in Dhaka sent a letter to the university administration requesting the investigation report. On September 25, a Malaysian female student accused Harun of sexual harassment. In response to the allegation, a five-member investigation committee was formed. During the investigation, general students of the university organised human chains and protest rallies, demanding a fair investigation and exemplary punishment for the accused teacher.

Students of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur staged protests on the campus late Tuesday night over the teasing of a female student allegedly by some outsiders.     They also blocked the Dhaka-Kurigram road for some time disrupting traffic. Two outsiders harassed a female student near the main gate of Begum Rokeya University on Tuesday evening. Three students from the university’s Mass Communication and Journalism Department, Abdullah Al Mamun, Mostafa Kamal, and Bidhan Roy, protested against the harassment. Student movement to lay siege to High Court on Wed At this time, the two outsiders called 10-15 more people and beat up students Mamun and Mostafa Kamal. With the situation deteriorating more university students from various departments intervened, leading to a clash between the two groups. During the fighting three more university students were injured. In protest, the students blocked the Dhaka-Kurigram road, demanding arrest of the outsiders and justice for the harassment. Later, around 12 am, the two perpetrators were apprehended by the students and handed over to the university administration. The blockade was lifted after the vice-chancellor assured the students that appropriate punishment would be given to those responsible. Students protest market prices, demand Competition Commission resignations Shamsur Rahman Sumon, a student of the university, mentioned that  outsiders from the university neighbourhood  frequently cause disturbances on the campus, including theft and mugging. In the past, these individuals would evade punishment by using political influence, but this time the students were determined to take action, he added. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Showkat Ali said that the two apprehended outsiders are currently in the custody of the university proctor. They are being interrogated, and discussions have been held with the police and administration. Those responsible must be punished through the law, said VC.

Dinajpur education board has witnessed a slight increase in the overall pass percentage this year compared to last year. The number of GPA-5 achievers was 7, 836 more than last year. A total of 14, 265 students secured the highest point in terms of the GPA-5 this year. Like every year, girls outshone boys in the board in both pass percentage and GPA-5. The education board Chairman Prof SM Abdus Samad Azad revealed these at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Exam controller Prof Mir Sajjad Ali and others were present there. The board chairman said students could sit for seven subjects amid the adverse atmosphere this year and their results were evaluated on those. Read: 31% HSC students fail in English under Jashore Board, pass rate drops Under the board, 86,954 students out of 112, 115 from 665 educational institutions came out successfully, he said.This year’s pass percentage was 77.56 percent, an increase of 3.08 percent of last year, he said, adding that 8,110 girls got the GPA-5 while the number for the boys was only 6, 185. The pass percentage of the boys was 73.97 percent while the girls outnumbered them by 704 percent. There were 20 colleges under the board where no students passed this year.