Dhaka University
DU admission tests at all divisional cities from Oct 1
Dhaka University (DU) will begin admission tests for the 2020-21 academic session at eight divisional cities including Dhaka from October 1.
The admission tests will be held in Dhaka and in seven public universities in the other divisional cities, aiming to save time and money of the admission seekers.
Vice-Chancellor Professor M Akhtaruzzaman made the announcement at a virtual press briefing.
"We have taken all the preparations to hold the admission tests smoothly. We will bring all the centres under strict surveillance to prevent any forgery this year," he said.
On average, 45 students will fight for a seat as a total of 3,24,030 admission seekers applied for 7,148 seats this year.
Of them, 1,17,956 seekers applied for 'Ka' unit (Science group) against 1,815 seats; 47,632 for 'Kha' unit (Humanities group) against 2,378 seats; 27,347 for 'Ga' unit (Commerce group) against 1,250 seats; 115,881 applied for 'Gha' unit (Combined group) against 1,570 seats and 15,496 for 'Cha' unit against 135 seats.
There are now 60,000 seats in 39 public universities across the country.
DU expels two students for digital and admission fraud
The Dhaka University (DU) authorities today expelled two students for digital fraud and admission through illegal means.
The expelled students are- Md Rakib Hasan of Accounting & Information Systems Department (Session 2017-18) and Ishrak Hossain Rafi of Geology Department (Session 2017-18).
Also read: DU reopens library amid huge rush of students and brief agitation
The decision was taken at a meeting of the university's Disciplinary Committee with VC Professor Akhtaruzzaman in the chair, said a DU press release.
Besides, some 72 students have been given punishment for different terms for adopting unfair means in the exams.
DU reopens library amid huge rush of students and brief agitation
The Dhaka University on Sunday reopened its library after about an 18-month Covid-induced closure amid a heavy rush of students, some of them trying to force their entry defying health guidelines and causing short-lived agitation.
Tension erupted after assistant proctor Liton Kumar Saha allegedly attempted to slap a student who tried to enter the science library building forcefully, witnesses said.
Angered by Liton’s behaviour students mobbed him demanding an explanation from him.
Also read: DU dormitories to reopen on Oct 5
The students also harassed two campus reporters and forced them to delete the photos and videos they shot.
DU dormitories to reopen on Oct 5
Dhaka University authorities have decided to reopen its residential halls on October 5 next for the master’s and honours final-year students who have taken at least one dose of anti-Covid vaccine.
The decision was taken at a Syndicate meeting held with VC Prof Aktheruzzaman in the chair on Saturday.
The university central library, science library and the seminar rooms of all departments will be reopened for students from September 26 and those will remain open from 10 am to 5pm, said DU Pro-VC (Education) ASM Maksud Kamal.
He added that student IDs and the proof of having at least one vaccine dose will be strictly monitored by the university authorities.
Aiming to raise health awareness, banners and festoons will be hung at the visible places of every residential hall and academic building with guidelines for following the hygiene rules.
Upon getting vaccinated, the dormitories will be reopened for the honors 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students in phases, the Pro-VC said.
READ: Students protest cutting down of old Krishnachura tree at DU, plant new one
According to the syndicate decision, residential halls cannot be crowded as before and no so-called 'Gono rooms' will be allowed there to continue. “Only regular resident students will be accommodated in the dormitories in accordance with the health protocols,” Maksud Kamal said.
READ: DU likely to reopen halls on limited scale from October 5
The date for resuming in-person classes will be fixed after all the students of the university come under the vaccination programme.
DU mulling over ways to implement its dope test
The Dhaka University authorities recently decided to conduct dope tests on freshers in a bid to keep the campus free of drugs. But the authorities are still not sure how the decision will be implemented.
A section of students welcomed the decision saying it will help to reduce the number of drug addicts in the campus while some said the decision goes against ‘personal freedom’, fearing that authorities could use the system to harass and oppress students.
The decision was taken in principle at a syndicate meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman on September 1, confirmed Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, pro-vice chancellor (education).
“Now, the committee will formulate policies on the process, facilities, and its implementation,” Prof Maksud told UNB.
A seven-member committee was formed to formulate a policy for conducting dope tests with Dhaka Medical College Principal Dr Titu Miah as its convener.
Dr Titu Miah, convenor of the newly formed committee, told UNB that under the system, dope tests would be conducted in the university during the recruitment of teachers and admission of new students every year.
READ: Students protest cutting down of old Krishnachura tree at DU, plant new one
“Additionally, students can be tested once a year in phases. However, the decision must be taken according to the capability of the university, which is absent now. This will require equipment and manpower. We are working on whether the dope tests will be done at the university or any other institution, and how the decision can be implemented,” he added.
“Primarily we talked with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital and they agreed to collaborate with us but further decision will be taken after approval of the university authorities,” Dr Titu Miah also said.
“Freshers or teachers have to pay their own fee for the dope test, with which they have to collect dope test certificate before completing enrollment. Dope test would be mandatory for all types of recruitment in the university,” he further explained.
Asked about what decision would be taken for those who test positive in the dope test, Dr Titu Miah said, “It is not final yet. University authority will take decisions in this regard. Maybe they have to take pre admission and post admission counselling from the university.”
Dr Mohammad Humayun Kabir, professor of the Department of Islamic History and Culture and a Syndicate member, said that the Deans’ Committee had recommended that the dope test be carried out on freshers.
“However, I think Bangladeshi facilities do not have such capacity to carry out dope tests on 7,000 freshers and provide results within two months,” he remarked.
A special report from an August 25 Deans’ Committee meeting was submitted to the Syndicate in which the committee made a few recommendations about dope tests of students, Humayun Kabir revealed.
The recommendations of the Deans’ Committee include developing DU’s own system for dope testing, and signing MoU with those who have the ability to carry out dope testing. Accordingly it also proposed that a committee be formed for these purposes.
It was learnt that the fifth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order last February 17, chaired by Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, had decided to make dope testing compulsory during the admission of students in all universities and educational institutions.
‘We are all against drugs’
A section of university teachers and students welcomed the decision saying it will help to check drug addiction in the campus while some havr opposed fearing that authorities could use the system to harass and oppress freshers.
READ: DU likely to reopen halls on limited scale from October 5
Professor Lutfur Rahman, convener of the BNP-backed White Panel teachers of Dhaka University, said that the dope test is ‘unnecessary’. “I don’t think the decision of the dope test is logical. It doesn’t match with university’s overall situation,” he added.
Dhaka University Teachers’ Association president Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan said, “I welcomed the decision. Everyone will be careful if the university authority will implement its decision properly.”
However, AL-backed DU teachers’ association ‘Blue Panel’ president Abdus Samad declined to comment on this matter.
Among students, Chhatra League Dhaka University unit general secretary Saddam Hossain said, “Inclusive social awareness needed to combat drug addiction. University should not take such a decision which will hamper students’ freedom and social dignity.”
Dhaka University Chhatra Dal convener Rakibul Islam said, “Thousands of university students are prone to drug addiction. This grim scenario can be replaced by implementing such a strict preventive way. Students are motivated to take drugs by their circumstance, He claimed.
Salman Siddique, president of the Socialist Student Front's DU unit, told UNB, “We are all against drugs but how the university plans to combat drugs is not scientific and democratic. Dope testing will not be fruitful. But the authorities can use the dope testing method to harass students, teachers.|
Contacted, VC Prof Md Akhtaruzzam said, "We are trying to uproot drugs from our society. It's not possible to keep everybody in check without an institutional initiative."
Drug addiction has grown into a serious concern for Dhaka University students. The university campus and its adjacent areas have turned into safe havens for drug addicts and dealers amid closure of the country’s premier educational institution due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On May 15, a Dhaka University student, Hafizur, 24, died as he hacked himself with a machete after taking LSD in the Curzon Hall area. He killed himself under the influence of the drug.
Besides, taking drugs is rampant in residential halls of the university. The addicts take drugs in groups on the rooftops and in the rooms of the dormitories when the campus is open.
Rakibul,a residential student of Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall, said, "When the university was open, liquor or marijuana was taken in groups on the roof of our residential building at night. Student leaders from different halls took part in such activities."
However it is implemented, the dope test system will help to ease the existing grim scenario, he hoped.
Students protest cutting down of old Krishnachura tree at DU, plant new one
Dhaka University students on Thursday staged protests as its authorities cut down an old Krishnachura and two other trees on the campus.
Some students brought out a procession carrying the pieces of the chopped down trees to exhibit their anger.
A group of Dhaka University students planted some new Krishnachura plants at the eastern corner of the Arts Building protesting the cutting down of the 60-year-old tree.
Read: DU rally demands probe into student's “mysterious” death
The university authorities claimed that the Krishnachura tree was chopped down on Wednesday morning as it had become riskier for pedestrians with its roots coming out open.
Two eucalyptus trees were also cut down at the same location.
The chopping down of the Krishnachura tree has drawn widespread criticisms on social media, particularly from former and current students of the university.
Monirul Islam, a former student of the university, on his Facebook post said, “I don’t feel like going to my university campus these days. The gutless people in the university’s administration can’t maintain the campus properly; rather they cut down trees for their business. This is so disheartening.”
Maintenance of all the trees on the university campus, including the plant-beautification of the Curzon Hall and road medians of the campus, are routinely carried out by the Arboriculture Centre of the university.
Prof Mihir Lal Saha, director of the centre, said, “These trees were basically at risk. They were on the road. The trees might have collapsed anytime. So there was no alternative to removing them. We’ll plant fast-growing trees at this place.”
Read: More than 100 DU students break into Sahidullah Hall
Asked about the chopping down of the old Krishnachura tree, he said, “The Krishnachura tree was supposed to be straight. But the tree has been tilted and its roots also got damaged. So, it could have been uprooted any time causing an accident. So it had to be removed.”
DU asks students to provide their vaccination status
Dhaka University students have been asked to provide information regarding Covid-19 vaccination by logging in with their institutional e-mail account.
If they face any trouble while doing this, they were also asked to communicate with the respective department or the admin of the institutional email accounts, said a press release issued from Dhaka University on Wednesday.
READ: DU dorms to reopen September 1 for final year and Masters students
Since the information about vaccination that was emailed to the ICT cell earlier couldn't be linked to the database, students would need to provide the information from their respective profiles by logging in through the institutional e-mail ID at the following address: https:/ssl.du.ac.bd/studentlogin
The move seems to be a part of the university’s preparation to reopen after a long closure since Covid-19 struck Bangladesh in March last year.
READ: Covid-19 vaccine: DU students asked to get registered by March 31
DU dorms to reopen September 1 for final year and Masters students
Dhaka University will reopen residential dormitories from October first week for final year and Masters students and rest of students will be welcomed back to halls by mid-November.
Students were advised to take covid-19 Vaccine by 15 September.
The proposal came after a meeting attended by provosts of the dormitories. However, further decisions will be finalized on Tomorrow deans committee meeting.
Speaking to UNB, Prof KM Saiful Islam Khan, provost of Sir AF Rahman Hall, said almost 80% of the renovations at the hall had been completed and they would be ready to reopen by the first week of October.
Read: School reopening awaits decision from the highest level, says state minister
Prof Saiful said they want to initially open halls for the masters and final year students. After completing the semester final within two weeks, they would leave the dormitories and the rest of students will be welcomed at the dormitories gradually.
The exams will be taken physically as arranging virtual exams is not possible, He added, saying as many as 25% students of the university were not able to follow their classes due to having poor internet coverage in remote villages.
DU vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Dr M Akhtaruzzaman said: “Provost standing committee proposed to reopen dormitories but further decision will be taken tomorrow deans committee meeting,"
Read: DU students demand removal of outsiders from dorms
“We need to know the overall condition of the halls. In line with the discussion, the reopening of the university as well as halls will be considered,” he added.
Police complaint filed against Prof Asif Nazrul over controversial Facebook post
A police complaint has been filed against Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul over his controversial Facebook post hinting at a Kabul airport-like situation in Bangladesh "if fair elections are held".
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the students' wing of the ruling Awami League, filed the complaint at the Shahbagh police station on Wednesday night, said acting officer-in-charge Moudud Howlader.
Read:National Mourning Day observed at DU
"His remarks have tarnished the country's image," as per the complaint.
Police on Thursday claimed to have received the complaint from BCL's human resource development secretary Md Nahid Hasan Shahin, but said that no FIR was filed in connection with the general diary entry.
“The complaint has been accepted as a general diary entry. As the allegation pertains to cyber security, we will take further steps only after consultation with the detective branch of the cyber unit," Moudud said.
Read RNPP contractor Asif Hossain secures HC bail
In his Facebook post on 17 August, the law professor wrote: "The scenario of Kabul Airport could also take place in Bangladesh as well, if fair elections were held here."
Enraged by the Facebook post, BCL on Wednesday even locked his office at the university’s law department.
Admission delayed, admission denied?
The ferocious second wave of the pandemic has further disrupted the higher education landscape across the world. And Bangladesh is no exception.
Here too, Covid-19 has exacerbated uncertainty for over a million-plus students preparing for admission tests to get into colleges and universities, with most of them deferred to curb the spread of the virus.
The uncertainty has left these admission seekers scrambling to figure out what else they might consider in case they fail to bag a seat in the university of their choice.
Read:DU to hold UG admission test from Oct 1, affiliated college test from Oct 29
The most sought-after Dhaka University, for instance, has deferred the admission test for all its undergraduate courses for the third time this academic year, citing the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
The other leading academic institutions -- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Chittagong University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, and the three public technical universities (CUET-RUET-KUET) -- have all put on hold the admission tests.
Forget the admission tests, a number of the 49 public universities in Bangladesh has not been able to conduct internal examinations since the pandemic broke out, resulting in sessions jam.
Read JU admission seekers can pay application fees through bKash
In fact, in the year 2020, a total of 13,67,377 students successfully completed the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) or equivalent examinations, and by now they were supposed to complete six months of university education.
This uncertainty over university admissions and the consequent anxiety have taken a toll on the mental health of many students and made some of them more vulnerable to drug use, UNB has learnt.
Female students in the rural areas of Bangladesh are the worst hit, with many of their parents losing their life savings during the pandemic. Many such parents have been forced to marry off their daughters at an early age in the past one year -- dashing their dreams of a higher education.
Read HC turns down writ seeking cancellation of MBBS admission test results
“I had a dream, a dream to complete my graduation. But the academic sessions jam and the pandemic changed my life forever," Saifa Nasrin, one such sufferer, told UNB over the phone from rural Bangladesh.
Last month, Saifa's parents married her off to reduce the financial burden on the family. "My husband has made it clear to me that he's not in favour of my higher studies."
Of the 49 public universities, 30 are supposed to conduct admission tests for undergraduate programmes.
Read: HC questions exclusion of SSC-2016 passed students from admission test
Some 20 of these universities -- barring the top five -- have decided to implement a cluster admission test system. Seven agriculture and three technical universities will also follow the same cluster system.
Bangladesh also has 107 private varsities and about 2,254 colleges affiliated to National University.
Moreover, these 20 public universities -- excluding Dhaka University, BUET, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University and Chittagong University -- are said to have received a total of 3,81,406 applications for 2020-21 UG admission tests.
Read DU admission tests rescheduled amid pandemic