education
Bangladesh's literacy rate rises to 74 percent, poverty down by 5.6 percent: Survey
The latest household survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) shows that the literacy rate in Bangladesh has increased to 74 percent.
According to the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022, the literacy rate was 65.6 percent in 2016 and 57.91 percent in 2010, said the survey report, which was published on Wednesday.
People aged above seven years were included in determining the literacy rate.
The BBS conducted the survey among 14,400 households from January 1 to December 31, 2022.
Currently (2022) the average monthly expenditure of a family in the country is TK 31500, in 2016 it was Tk15715. As a result, the cost has doubled in a span of six years.
Due to various programmes taken by the government to alleviate poverty, the rate of poor and destitute people in the country has decreased. The poor population in the country is 18.7 percent. Besides, the poverty rate has decreased to 5.6 percent.
According to 2016 statistics, the poor population in the country was 24.3 percent.
That year the ultra-poor population was 12.9 percent. As a result, the number of poor people in the country has decreased by 5.6 percent in a span of seven years.
At the same time, the ultra-poor population decreased by 7.3 percent.
The poverty rate is 20.5 percent in rural towns and 14.7 percent in urban areas.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), a government agency working to determine the poverty rate, released such data at a function in the BBS Auditorium on Wednesday (April 12).
Planning Minister MA Mannan, State Minister Dr. Shamsul Alam and other officials were present.
The agency had released its latest 'Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)’ in 2016.
Threat on Mangal Shovajatra: GD filed at Shahbagh police station
Mangal Shovajatra organisers have filed a General Diary (GD) with Shahbagh Police station after receiving a letter with the threat to foil the event at the Fine Arts faculty of Dhaka University where preparation is going on for the event.
Abtahi Rahman, member of preparatory committee of Mangal Shovajatra, got the letter around 9.45 pm on Tuesday.
Later, he filed a GD with Shahbagh Police station.
"Yesterday we were supervising our works at the west wall and I found a letter containing threats which syas, " Mangal Shovajatra is a Shirk, do not put yourselves under threat by coming to the area. Attack could be launched anytime on that day.” Abtahi said.
ULAB DEH organizes workshop on Critical Medical Humanities in 21st Century Bangladesh
Focusing on the emerging importance of studying critical medical humanities, the Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) recently organized an exclusive seminar and workshop at its Mohammadpur main campus in the capital.
Titled "Physical Wounds in Literature: A Talk and Workshop on Critical Medical Humanities in 21st Century Bangladesh," the workshop was conducted by Farah Binte Bashir Dolon, a researcher in Medical Humanities and MA student in Comparative Literature at the University of Hyderabad in India.
Physical disabilities and sickness result in mental trauma and disturbance in everyday physical, social, and financial aspects that are reflected in contemporary literature across the globe. The 21st century is witnessing an increasing number of people suffering from psychological illness that has crossed the limits of medical sciences and entered the humanities arena, according to the researcher.
The relationship between psychological illness and physical illness, which has existed since prehistoric times, is prominently portrayed in postmodern literature and Franz Kafka’s works are noteworthy in this regard.
CU student commits suicide in dormitory
Another public university student, this time a female student of Chattogram University (CU), committed suicide at a residential hall of the university on Saturday.
Rukia Sultana Ruku, 22, was a student of the 2019-20 session of the department of management and a residential student of the university's Shamsunnahar Hall.
She lived in room 201. She was from Lalmonirhat district. Her body was recovered around 5:30 pm on Saturday.
Eyewitnesses said her classmates went to Ruku's room and found her hanging. Later, they first took her to the University Medical Center and then shifted her to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead in the evening.
Hall Provost Rakiba Nabi said, "Students found her hanging in her room and brought her to the hospital. The doctor on duty declared her dead."
On information, Ruku's husband came to the hospital and received the body, he added.
Education minister inaugurates Glenrich International School (GIS) aiming to promote ‘School of Life’
A premium Cambridge curriculum school in Bangladesh, Glenrich International School (GIS) was launched on Thursday to promote the idea of ‘School of Life’ and prepare the learners for the future world.
Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni inaugurated the campus as the chief guest while Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi as a guest of honour and Deputy Education Minister Mr. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury as special guest were present.
Education Minister Dipu Moni said that Bangladesh has made notable progress in expanding access to education over the decade.
"The government is trying to bring about significant changes in the education landscape. It is amazing to see that STS Group is also contributing in this regard by launching this premium school called Glenrich. I believe this school will make the learners fit for the future world," he said.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said, "We are pleased to see the beautiful campus of Glenrich International School (GIS) and everything that it promises. Bangladesh is steadily growing in various sectors, including the education industry."
Chairman of STS Group Bob Kundanm said that they are committed to continuously invest in providing best quality education for the future generation of Bangladesh.
"Our focus is to bring the development of Bangladesh’s youth at par with the highest standards of global competency and to do that we have taken the initiative to introduce the concept of School of life – equipping our young with the necessary skillset for the future along with an enhanced curriculum.”
Glenrich is promoting a 'school of life' concept, where students will learn about scholastic subjects and be encouraged to continue creative pursuits in a caring and nurturing environment.
Professor Maksudur new DU proctor
Professor M Maksudur Rahman of the geography and environment department has been appointed as the new proctor of Dhaka University (DU).
He replaced Professor AKM Golam Rabbani of the Islamic history and culture department.
DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman appointed Maksudur as the new proctor, said Registrar Probir Kumar Sarker Wednesday.
"I received the appointment letter today. If everything goes well, I will assume my new role tomorrow," Maksudur told UNB.
He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the geography and environment department of DU in 1994 in 1996, respectively.
Maksudur earned a PhD in human geography from the University of Hull in the UK in 2008.
Islamic University: Victim returns to campus
The victim who was ousted from his hall by a group of activists of Islamic University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student organisation of the ruling Awami League, returned to the campus on Monday.
Mahadi Hasan, a third-year student of finance and banking department of the university, returned to the campus in the afternoon three days after he was ousted from the Lalon Shah Hall of the university.
The BCL men ousted Mahadi almost one month after a fresher of the same department was tortured and humiliated by ruling party-backed student body’s IU unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her four cohorts at Deshratna Sheikh Hall on February 12 night.
Returning to the campus, Mahadi sought cooperation of the university administration for his security measures.
IU Lalon Shah Hall provost Professor M Obaydul Islam said that the victim who was ousted from the hall returned to the hall.
They would take necessary action against those found involved in ousting the student from the hall after getting reports from the probe body formed by the hall administration, he added.
IU proctor Professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad told UNB that they would assist Mahadi like other students on the campus so that none could create chaos regarding the issue.
Earlier, a group of IU BCL unit activists, including Torikul Islam Torun and Razu of Bangla department and Fahim Faisal of development studies department, loyal to IU BCL general secretary Nasim Ahmed Joy, asked Mahadi to meet them.
Mahadi met the BCL activists who then forced him to leave the room.
They also threw his valuables, including books and belongings, out of the room.
Mahadi later lodged a written complaint against the BCL activists with the hall provost in this connection on Saturday.
The Lalon Shah Hall administration formed a three-member probe body led by the hall’s house tutor Professor M Helal Uddin to investigate the incident on Sunday.
Single admission test for universities from next year: Dipu Moni
A single admission test will be held in all universities of the country from next year, Education Minister Dipu Moni said on Monday.
National Testing Authority (NTA) will be formed to conduct the exam, the minister said at a policy-making meeting on the single admission test for the academic year 2023-2024 held at UGC.
Dipu Moni called upon the concerned to prepare for the single admission test from now on.
Besides, a committee headed by the UGC chairman will be formed soon regarding the solo entrance test, she added.
UGC Chairman Prof Dr. Kazi Shahidullah presided over the meeting while members of the commission Prof Dr. Dil Afroza Begum, Prof Dr. Md. Sajjad Hossain, Secondary and Higher Education Department Additional Secretary Md Abu Yusuf Mia and UGC Secretary Dr. Ferdous Zaman were also present.
The examination procedure will be discussed in detail with the dean of the university and the examination committee in this regard, the minister said, adding that the schedule of the single entrance examination will be published after HSC examination.
She said that the initiative is being taken for the sake of students and guardians and hoped that there will be no chance to raise any questions about its quality.
Teaching can be started in a short period of time if the admission test is held simultaneously in all universities, UGC Chairman Kazi Shahidullah said.
The success of the single admission test would be a huge achievement in the higher education sector, he hoped.
Sexual harassment : MM College BCL publicity secretary relieved
Bangladesh Chhatra League publicity secretary of Jashore Government Michael Madhusudan (MM) College unit Nur Islam has been relieved from the post.
Nur Islam has been relieved from the organization for his involvement in activities against the principles the organization, said a press release signed by District BCL president Salauddin Kabir Pias and general secretary Tanjib Nowshad Pallab on Sunday.
He was recommended to the Central Committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League for expulsion.
District Chhatra League president Salauddin Kabir Pias said, "Reports have been published in various media about the harassment of the students of Sheikh Hasina Hall of the college and the attempt to abduct a student. After discussing with the president and secretary of the central Chhatra League, Nur Islam was relieved from the post. At the same time, he has been recommended to be expelled.”
Students of Sheikh Hasina Hall alleged that outsiders and non-students, led by Nur Islam, stay at Shaheed Asad Hall and harass the students of Sheikh Hasina Hall in various ways.
On January 31, the students gave a written complaint to the principal in this regard. On January 21, an attempt was made to abduct a student of Geography and Environmental Science department under the leadership of Nur Islam. Later, with the help of the police, the girl returned home.
Sexual harassment: DU suspends student of criminology
Dhaka University has suspended a student of the Department of Criminology for harassing a female student.
Suspended Sakin Tanvir is a student of the 2016-17 academic session.
In this regard, the authorities sent him a show-cause notice and asked him to respond within seven days as to why he shouldn't be expelled.
During investigation, he was found guilty of sexually harassing junior female students of the department, the release said.
"DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman approved the suspension," said a press release issued by DU Public Relations Office.