United News of Bangladesh

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)  confined  the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University  to a building for nearly an hour and a half early Thursday, protesting alleged rigging during the vote count of the Chattogram University Central Students' Union (CUCSU) election. Pro-VC  Professor Mohammad Kamal Uddin was held hostage around 1:00am on Thursday at the Faculty of Engineering’s IT Building where the vote counting was underway. Chhatra Dal leaders alleged that their Vice President (VP) candidate for the Suhrawardy Hall students' union election was defeated through manipulation. They demanded a re-count of the votes cast in Room 312 of the Engineering Faculty. According to campus sources, police arrived around 2:30am in an attempt to escort the Pro-VC from the building. CUCSU Elections: Shibir wins VP and GS posts, Chhatra Dal tops in AGS race However, as they reached the main gate of the building, Chhatra Dal activists again blocked their way, preventing his exit. The Pro-VC was seen in discussions with Chhatra Dal's president, general secretary, and other leaders around 3 pm regarding the allegations raised over the Suhrawardy Hall vote. Chhatra Dal claimed that their VP candidate, Jamadiul Awwal, received 1,203 votes, while Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed candidate Niamat Ullah allegedly won the post by securing 1,206 votes — a margin the JCD leaders suspect resulted from irregularities. When asked about the incident, Pro-VC Professor Mohammad Kamal Uddin told reporters, “After the results were announced, I was leaving the hall when a group of students blocked my way, demanding a re-count of the votes. I informed them that such matters should be addressed to the election commissioner. But they did not accept that and kept me confined in a room for nearly 90 minutes. Later, police came and rescued me.”

The Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel has secured a sweeping victory in the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) election winning 24 posts including that of vice president (VP) and general secretary (GS). The assistant general secretary (AGS) post went to a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) candidate. According to results compiled until around 3:45 am Thursday, Shibir-supported candidates under the 'Sampreetir Shikkharthi Jote' panel won the top two posts.  Ibrahim Hossain Rony was elected VP with 7,983 votes, while Saeed Bin Habib won the GS post with 8,031 votes. Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal-backed candidate Ayubur Rahman secured the AGS post, receiving 5,254 votes. Apart from VP and GS, Islami Chhatra Shibir candidates won 22 other posts while Chhatra Dal secured another post and one position went to an independent candidate. Voting took place peacefully on Wednesday from 9 am to 4 pm, with only a few isolated incidents reported, according to the Election Commission. CUCSU voting underway peacefully amid allegations of irregularities Voting was conducted on paper ballots and counting was done using OMR machines. Results were displayed live on 14 LED screens. University authorities said the official results would be formally announced later Thursday on completion of the vote count. Chittagong University pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Kamal Uddin said the vote counting has been completed and now preparations are underway to announce the results formally. The voting was held in five faculties of the university, across 15 centers designated for 15 residential halls.  A total of 689 booths were set up in 60 rooms, with voter turnout reaching around 60 percent by 4 pm. The entire polling and counting process was displayed live on 14 LED screens across the campus.  Ballot papers were used for voting and the results were processed using Optical Mark Reader (OMR) machines. According to the Election Commission, 24 candidates  vied for vice president (VP), 22 for general secretary (GS), and 21 for assistant general secretary (AGS).  CUCSU election to be held tomorrow amid festive atmosphere Other portfolios include sports, culture, publications, welfare, research and IT. Each hall and hostel union has 14 posts, with 908 candidates in total. Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD)  confined  the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University  to a building for nearly an hour and a half early Thursday, protesting alleged rigging during the vote count of the Chattogram University Central Students' Union (CUCSU) election. Pro-VC  Professor Mohammad Kamal Uddin was held hostage around 1:00am at the Faculty of Engineering’s IT Building where the vote counting was underway. Chhatra Dal leaders alleged that their Vice President (VP) candidate for the Suhrawardy Hall students' union election was defeated through manipulation. They demanded a re-count of the votes cast in Room 312 of the Engineering Faculty. According to campus sources, police arrived around 2:30am in an attempt to escort the Pro-VC from the building. However, as they reached the main gate of the building, Chhatra Dal activists again blocked their way, preventing his exit. The Pro-VC was seen in discussions with Chhatra Dal's president, general secretary, and other leaders around 3 pm regarding the allegations raised over the Suhrawardy Hall vote. Chhatra Dal claimed that their VP candidate, Jamadiul Awwal, received 1,203 votes, while Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed candidate Niamat Ullah allegedly won the post by securing 1,206 votes — a margin the JCD leaders suspect resulted from irregularities. When asked about the incident, Pro-VC Professor Mohammad Kamal Uddin told reporters, “After the results were announced, I was leaving the hall when a group of students blocked my way, demanding a re-count of the votes. I informed them that such matters should be addressed to the election commissioner. But they did not accept that and kept me confined in a room for nearly 90 minutes. Later, police came and rescued me.”   

Students from various ethnic communities staged a protest rally in Khagrachhari on Sunday demanding the release of five Chittagong University (CU) students who were abducted from the Giriful area of the district town five days ago. They also demanded justice for the recent rape of girl of an ethnic community in Rangamati’s Kaukhali upazila. Under the banner of ‘Khagrachhari Adibasi Chhatra Samaj’, the demonstrators marched from Chengi Square and paraded through Shapla Chattar, Adalat Road, and ended their rally in front of the court premises. A protest meeting was held there, chaired by Tushon Chakma. Speakers included Sujon Chakma Zhimiti, president of the Pahari Chhatra Parishad; Ukkyanu Marma of the Bangladesh Marma Student Council; Akash Tripura, president of Tripura Students' Forum (Sadar unit); former CU student Rahel Chakma; and student leader Maya Chowdhury, among others. Human chain protests ‘baton charge by army’ on medical students in Sunamganj The speakers demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted students and swift justice for the rape victim. They alleged that the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was involved in creating unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by disrupting peace and engaging in abduction-related activities. They urged the UPDF to refrain from such heinous acts and return to a peaceful path.

Chittagong University has expelled 73 students for their involvement in attacks on students and journalists during the anti-discrimination student movement. “We have expelled a total of 73 students for the incidents of attacks on students during the movement and on journalists who supported it,” said CU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Kamal Uddin on Thursday. DU provides financial assistance to students injured in July Uprising “Initially, we have expelled those against whom we found evidence. More students will be expelled later based on further evidence,” he added.

Two assistant proctors of Chittagong University resigned from their administrative posts on Sunday. Dr Md Morshedul Alam and Arup Barua submitted their resignation letter to acting registrar KM Noor Ahmad citing personal reasons. Youth crushed under wheels of Chittagong University-bound train Dr Morshedul Alam said, "I resigned for personal reasons.There is nothing more behind my resignation. I submitted my resignation to the registrar this morning.” Earlier in March last year, 19 officials proctors, principals of various halls, and resident teachers in various positions of administration simultaneously resigned from the administration of Chittagong University. Four members of a family rescued after landslides on Chittagong University campus

Chittagong University clinched the five-team Inter University Hockey Tournament title beating Cumilla University by 2-0 goal in the final at the Dhaka University Central playground here on Wednesday. Hosts Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) finished 3rd jointly. Read more: Five-team Inter-University Hockey begins Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University Prof. Dr Mohammad Samad was present at the day's closing function as the chief guest and later he distributed the prizes. Five University teams—Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Chittagong University, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Cumilla University—took part in the four-day meet that began last Sunday (January 22).

At least nine people including the assistant proctor of the Chittagong University have been injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League of Chittagong University (CU) unit. Dr. Shahidul Islam, assistant proctor of the university and eight BCL activists were injured in the clash that erupted between two BCL factions- “Sixty Nine” and “VX” -in front of Suhrawardy Hall at around 12 am Friday. Police and the proctorial body brought members the situation under control at around 1 am, said Dr. Robiul Hasan Bhuiyan, Proctor of CU. “Discussion is being held between the two groups to resolve the matter,” he added. Md. Ataul Gani, a doctor at the university’s medical center, said the  injured assistant proctor was given primary treatment. One of the injured was sent to the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment.   Read more: 15 injured in BCL factional clash at CU Pradip Chakraborty Durjoy, leader of the VX group and vice president of CU BCL, said, “Members of ;Sixty Nine’ threw bricks at us. We retaliated against their attack.” Previously, just a day before this clash, another clash erupted between the members of the same groups following a spat on the shuttle train. On Thursday night, three BCL men were injured in the clash in the railway station area. Read more: 3 CU BCL men hurt as Shuttle Train spat triggers clash

Three people have been injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Chittagong University (CU) unit following a spat on the Shuttle Train, police said. The injured are Mamun of the history department, Manik of the Accounting department and Shah Poran of the Botany department. Read more: CU student assault: 5 BCL activists remanded Mamun and Manik received primary treatment from CU Medical Centre; Shah Poran was sent to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for better treatment. The clash broke out between BCL groups VX and Sixty Nine following an altercation at the university rail station around 10pm Thursday, Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of the university police outpost, said. Following the altercation, VX Group men took position in front of Suhrawardy Hall and Sixty Nine Group men in front of Shahjalal Hall. Later, the two groups started chasing each other and hurling bricks, leaving the trio injured. Police and the proctorial body brought the situation under control at 12am, Mizanur said. Pradip Chakraborty Durjoy, leader of the VX group and vice-president of CU BCL, said, "There has been an altercation among the junior students on Shuttle Train on its way back to CU from Chattogram city. Hopefully, we will be able to figure things out by sitting together." Read more: CU students lock main gate protesting attack on student ‘by BCL men’ Iqbal Hossain Tipu, general secretary of CU BCL and leader of Sixty Nine Group, said: "There is no scope to show favour to anyone – no matter who belongs to which group. The administration should find those responsible for the clash and punish them." VX and Sixty Nine are known on the campus as followers of the city Awami League General Secretary and former mayor AJM Nasir Uddin.

The protesting factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL) Chittagong University unit withdrew their indefinite blockade on Tuesday a day after enforcing it demanding posts in the full committee of the unit. Upon assurance from Chittagong City Awami League General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin, the six sub-groups of CU BCL withdrew the blockade, said CU BCL vice president Rakibul Hasan Dinar. Another group, followers of Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel, also withdrew the blockade, he added. Meanwhile, CU acting registrar Professor SM Monirul Hasan said the main gate of the university and the transport office cannot be put under lock and key from now on. The university administration will issue a notice in this regard. “The administration will take  action if anyone locks the main gate,” he added. A group of BCL leaders and activists started protest around 8 am on Monday and locked the main gate of the university, halting classes and exams of the university. Teachers’ buses could not leave the campus for Chattogram in the morning, university. Besides, the shuttle train service also came to a halt, he added. The agitated BCL activists placed a three-point demand including posts in the committee. Earlier on August 1, BCL activists, who didn't get any posts in the new committee, enforced a blockade programme halting classes and exams of the university following announcement of the full committee of the unit. After three years, the full committee of the CU unit of BCL was announced on July 31.

A faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL) Chittagong University unit on Monday enforced a blockade on the campus as they were ‘deprived of posts in the full committee of the unit’. A group of BCL leaders and activists started protest around 8 am and locked the main gate of the university, halting classes and exams of the university. Read: Protest rally at DU against BCL attack, BSF border killing Teachers’ buses could not leave the campus for Chattogram in the morning, university Assistant Proctor Shahidul Islam said. Besides, the shuttle train service also came to a halt, he added.