United News of Bangladesh

Universal College Bangladesh (UCB), an STS Group institution is set to host “UCB Admission Day” in Chattogram on January 20. The event, arranged at The Peninsula Chittagong, will host O/A level and HSC students seeking international education between 10am and 5pm to help them learn how to apply for Monash University and UoL-LSE programmes right from Bangladesh and benefit from the exclusive offerings of UCB, according to a press release.The students will be able to apply for Monash University Foundation Year and Monash University Degree Pathway Programne with on-spot offer letters. Upon completing the first year of these programmes at UCB, students will be able to easily advance to Monash University Malaysia or Australia to complete the rest of their academic years (subject to meeting certain educational criteria), it said. The UCB Admission Day 2024 will also provide information on the University of London (UoL)’s Economics, Management, Finance, and the Social Sciences (EMFSS) programme, directed by the London School of Economics (LSE). The UoL-LSE Programme offers flexible undergraduate course options in Economics, Business and Management, Accounting and Finance, and Finance. UCB, in collaboration with the UoL, has made it possible to earn an international degree in Bangladesh without going abroad. Students interested in the UoL-LSE Programme would require to keep an eye on the admission portal from the last week of February, said the release. Manas Singh, CEO of STS Group, and Hew Gill, President and Provost of UCB, will welcome the parents and students attending UCB Admission Day. Students attending the event can register online (https://forms.office.com/r/iVNkP8CscA) and enjoy special benefits such as academic assessment, one-on-one counseling sessions, and scholarship assessment opportunities. They will receive up to 40 per cent scholarship should they get admission on the UCB Admission Day.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has selected 10 researchers for the UGC post-doctoral fellowship. The researchers were picked at a meeting chaired by UGC chairman (Additional Charge) Prof Dr Muhammad Alamgir on Tuesday, said a press release on Wednesday. UGC forms probe committee against Islamic University VC The 10 researchers who are getting the UGC fellowship are Dr Muhammad Nurul Amin Nuri and Dr Firoza Akter Khanom of Chattogram University, Prof Dr Sharaban Tahura and Prof Dr Gulshan Ara of Jagannath University, Dr Sheikh Mehedi Hasan of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Dr Md Tarikul Islam of Gopalganj Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Prof Dr Farhin Hasan of American International University, Dr Shahid Md Ashif Iqbal of Premier University, Dr Sultana Razia of Barendra University and Dr Suvash Chandra Deb of Brindaban Government College. Single entry test for public universities not from next year: UGC Chairman A total of 30 researchers from various public, private universities located on permanent campus and government colleges of the country applied for the UGC Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2023. According to the policy, 10 researchers from among the applicants have finally been selected for the UGC Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2023 on the basis of applicants' educational qualification, experience, publications, research title, summary, supervisor's recommendation. UGC won’t grant exemptions for irregularities in private or public universities

Demanding in-person classes, first-year students of the 52nd batch in Jahangirnagar University boycotted online classes on Wednesday. Class representatives of various departments said that the students of 16 departments and one institute boycotted the class. Butterfly fair held at Jahangirnagar University The departments include History, Mathematics, Chemistry, Anthropology, Philosophy, International Relations, English, Journalism and Media Studies, Computer Science and Engineering, Pharmacy, Zoology, Management Studies, Law and Justice, Fine Arts, Environmental Science, Bangla department and Bangabandhu Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture. Wishing anonymity, a student of Journalism and Media Studies said they were told that offline classes would be held after the national elections. Jahangirnagar University's exam irregularities raise concerns among students “Election is over, but no initiative has yet to be taken from the administration”, the student added. Another student said they face many hurdles while doing online classes at home. They suffer because of internet connection or devices, and lack of a suitable environment for class. The students are also concerned about attendance marks. Daylong bird fair at Jahangirnagar University Friday Dean and Chairman of Law and Justice Assistant Professor Dr. Tapos Kumar Das said: "We didn’t get any kind of instruction from the university administration for in-person classes." Prof Dr.Nurul Alam, vice-chancellor of the university, could not be reached over phone for comments despite repeated attempts.

Twenty one students were temporarily expelled from a dormitory over clashes between two factions of the ruling party student front, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), at Khulna University for Engineering and Technology (KUET). The university authorities formed a five-member investigation committee over the incident, said Lalon Shah Hall provost Dr Abdul Hafiz Mia. According to university sources, there was already tension going on between the two groups over the formation of the new BCL committee. Meanwhile, some students including KUET Chhatra League president Rudranil Singh were allegedly thrown out of Lalon Shah Hall. At least four people were injured in the ensuing clash on Sunday night when the students tried to enter the hall. Meanwhile, Tahmidul Haque Ishraq, one of the injured students, who was also expelled from the hall, filed a case against 12 people, including KUET BCL president Rudranil, and at least 40-50 unidentified people. Momtazul Haque, officer-in-charge of Khan Jahan Ali Police Station, said injured student Tahmidul filed a case against 12 people alleging assault and death threats. The injured students are Tahmidul Haque Ishraq and Jobayer Hossain Naim of Civil Engineering Department, Safayet Saimum of Mechanical Engineering department, and Nilan Khalek Parabar of Mechatronic Engineering. The expelled students are Tahmidul Haque Ishraq, Safayet Saimum, Nilan Khalek Parabar, Abdullah Ibne Joynal, Shahriar Ferdous Oshan, Shahnewaz Parvez Shuvo, Tayeb Yasir Niloy, Junayat Haque Sarker, Jubaidur Hossain Nayeem, Md. Jahangir Alam and Md. Jahangir Alam, Sabbir Hossain, Md. Adnan Islam Shams, Minhazur Rahman Abrar, Fazle Rabbi, Sadiq Bin Faruk, Abir Hasan, Md. Abu Bakar Siddique, Amit Kumar Ghosh, Aritra Debnath Prithu, Meftaul Mahmud, Sudipta Talukder and Mizanur Rahman Muhsin.  

Faruque Hassan, President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has stressed the importance of creating educated and skilled human resources out of the underprivileged children and enabling them to participate in mainstream development. “A large of number of underprivileged children still remains out of formal education. We have to ensure education for them to break the cycle of poverty for these children and turn them into asset for the country,” he said. 10,500 HSC, equivalent examinees to get scholarship: DSHE The BGMEA president highlighted the significance of investing in education and skills development programs to equip less privileged children with the knowledge and skills necessary to secure employment and thus contribute to the economic development of Bangladesh, said a press release issued on Tuesday. During his visit to the Shishukanon Pre-primary School in Saidpur today, which is established and operated by Manabik Shahajya Sangstha (MSS) for the children of disadvantaged people, Faruque highlighted the significance of investing in education and skills development programs. Secondary schools can be shut if temperature drops below 10 C: DSHE Director of Giant Group Sharmeen Hassan Tithi was also present during the visit. The aim is to equip less privileged children with the knowledge and skills essential for securing employment, thereby contributing to the economic development of Bangladesh. He spent time with the students of the school encouraging them to pursue education diligently. He presented the students with educational materials, foods and toys and assured of his assistance in the future. Nowfel wants new unis to refrain from running undergraduate courses at start of journey The BGMEA President urged the affluent community to come forward and extend a helping hand in providing education for the underprivileged. Collective efforts can play a pivotal role in shaping a brighter future for these children and, consequently, the nation, he added.

As many as 10,500 students will get scholarships based on the results of  Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations of 2023. Secondary schools can be shut if temperature drops below 10 C: DSHE Of them, 1125 students under nine general boards will be given merit scholarships while 9,375 general scholarships. A notice, signed by Prof. Nehal Ahmed, Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), was issued in this regard on Tuesday. Nowfel wants new unis to refrain from running undergraduate courses at start of journey The education boards have been instructed to publish a gazette in this regard within January 21. Those who will get the scholarship under merit list will be provided Tk 825 per month and a lump sum Tk 1,800 once a year and the students under general list will be given Tk 375 per month and the lump sum Tk 750 once a year. Venice hosts congress of Bangladeshi students in northern Italy

Education authorities in any district can shut down schools in case the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, said the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) in a circular on Tuesday. Nowfel wants new unis to refrain from running undergraduate courses at start of journey According to the circular, “A cold wave is sweeping different parts of the country and as a result the educational activities are being seriously hampered. The regional deputy directors in consultation with the district education officers can keep the educational institutions under secondary level shut if the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius in any district.” LDDP to train 600 veterinarians across the country The institutions which will be shut due to low temperature will remain closed until the temperature rises above 10 degrees Celsius. Venice hosts congress of Bangladeshi students in northern Italy

Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel has said new universities shouldn't burden themselves with running undergraduate-level courses at the start of their journey “Why are the new universities conducting undergraduate courses from the start? Undergraduate courses of the government colleges should be monitored and postgraduate courses will be done separately by the university,” he said. The minister said this while exchanging views with Bangladesh Bishwabidyalay Parishad, an organization of vice-chancellors of public universities, at the auditorium of the International Mother Language Institute in the capital's Segunbagicha on Monday. The start is a challenging time for a new university, the education minister said. “We should do research development from there with a full setup.” Nowfel said in 2014, the prime minister asked to ensure academic monitoring by bringing all colleges or centenary colleges under the respective university. He advised the vice-chancellors of all public universities to take steps in this regard. “The Open University is monitoring non-formal education across the country, then why can't Chittagong University monitor Chittagong College? Once upon a time, it did. If there was the capacity to do it before, then now the system should increase further. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself has included seven colleges in Dhaka University on her own initiative. There may be challenges there, too. We are overcoming that challenge. Students blocked the road. But we didn't move,” he said. “The quality of the seven colleges has improved. If Dhaka University can work on academic standard monitoring, why can't other universities?” He indicated that the ministry will do so if the law is to be amended in these cases. Referring to the prime minister's directives, the education minister said all the universities are at the district level, the government colleges in those districts, their academies will do the work of monitoring.

The government's Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP) would train 300 field veterinarians from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and 300 from Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) to use ultrasonogram machines. A workshop on "Training on Use and Basics of Ultrasonogram Machine" was inaugurated at the conference room of the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on Monday. Nowfel to prioritise innovation, performance over ceremonial aspects The Department of Surgery and Obstetrics at BAU organised the workshop, funded by LDDP. BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Emdadul Haque Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the programme, presided over by Associate Professor Dr Momena Khatun. Head, Department of Surgery and Obstetrics. Professor of the Faculty of Veterinary, Dr Md Abdul Awal, was present as a special guest. Heads of different departments and teachers of the Veterinary Faculty were also present on the occasion. Prime Minister's Gold Medalist returns awards for education in disgust over corrupt teacher recruitment process at RU The workshop was coordinated by Dr Nasrin Sultana Juyena, professor, Department of Surgery and Obstetrics. She appreciated the initiative of the government to create smart agriculture and skilled veterinarians. Venice hosts congress of Bangladeshi students in northern Italy VC Emdadul hoped to reflect the results of the training at the field level as well as emphasise enhancing the skills of the veterinarians.

 The Association of Bangladeshi Students in Northern Italy (ABSNI) under the patronage of the Consulate of Bangladesh in Milan held its second congress at the Italian city of Venice recently. This annual event aims at providing valuable insights and guidance to Bangladeshi students pursuing their dreams in Italy. This year’s Congress featured a video message from Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen inspiring and motivating the students to excel in their studies and professional career in Italy. The Foreign Secretary noted that by dint of talent and hard work, the Bangladeshi students can secure managerial spots in the competitive Italian job market. A panel of experts comprising academics, recruiters, immigration lawyers, and senior officials offered valuable ideas and thoughts to the graduate level students who will be seeking professional career and entrepreneurial venture in Italy and elsewhere. Ambassador of Bangladesh to Italy Md Monirul Islam attended the event as the Chief Guest while the Bangladesh Consul General in Milan M J H Jabed was the Special Guest. Ambassador Monirul Islam urged upon the students to extract the best from modern technology and convert themselves into resourceful individuals. He said that the embassy and the Consulate are always ready to extend all necessary support, particularly paperwork, for the students so that they can attend their studies without any hassle. Consul General MJH Jabed, in his remarks, noted that some participants of last year’s Congress have successfully engaged themselves in the job market of Italy. He expressed the hope that the Bangladeshi students would be able to prove their indispensability to the local recruiters in the future. Dr. Raffaello Cossu, a distinguished Professor Emeritus from the University of Padova, said that Bangladesh is on the right track to invest in higher education, which would pay dividends as Bangladesh graduates into a developing country. The Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in Venice Fabrizio D'Avino spoke with students about the cultural exchange and opportunities in Italy, including the process of obtaining a work permit in Italy. Senior Researcher at the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, Dr. Jeremy Pal discussed the value of innovation and research in combating climate change, enticing students to help solve global issues. Managing Director of INEVO, Roberto Fagarazzi, shared insights on the professional landscape in Italy and provided career guidance to students. Speaking about opportunities in the technology sector, Eusuf Daud from HCL Technologies emphasized the need for skilled workers and what it takes to stand out and have a bright future. The discussion session was followed by a Q/A session where students had the opportunity to seek clear views from the speakers on issues pertaining to their transition from student to professional in Italy. Dr. Shouro Dasgupta of Venice Ca Foscari University moderated the session. The second congress of the Association of Bangladeshi Students in Northern Italy served as a platform for students to gain valuable knowledge and networking opportunities with professionals and entrepreneurs in diverse fields. The Congress was followed by a short cultural event, in which a Bangladeshi student performed on a Tagore song, making the event more colourful and fostering a sense of bondage among the participants.