Education
Nowfel urges to refrain from unhealthy politics over opposing curriculum
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel said on Monday that if there is anything confusing in the new textbooks, it will be corrected. He urged everyone to refrain from unhealthy politics in the name of opposing the curriculum.
He said participation of madrasa teachers in the National Curriculum and Textbook Board will be ensured. As a result, they will be able to give their opinions and contribute to the textbooks prepared for madrasas.
What BRAC University says about Asif Mahtab
The minister was speaking at a view exchange meeting with the Swadhinata Madrasa Teachers' Council at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital on Monday.
The minister highlighted the centuries-long tradition of discussing Islamic philosophy in the country's Aliya madrasas in this subcontinent. He emphasized that the new curriculum, aligned with Islamic education, has been warmly received by students and parents.
He further mentioned that the new curriculum is skill-oriented and will assist madrasa students in entering the job market without any conflict with religious values.
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Nowfel emphasized that after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has played the most significant role in the development of religious education.
The government has not only constructed 18 madrasa buildings but also enrolled a significant number of madrasas under the MPO (Monthly Pay Order) system, he informed.
JnU student Khadija discharged from one DSA case
During the meeting, the Secretary of the Ministry of Religious and Madrasa Education, Dr. Farid Uddin Ahmed, stated that madrasa students study religious subjects alongside the national curriculum. Therefore, they are actively contributing to various fields while maintaining harmony with the mainstream.
Habibur Rahman, Director-General of the Department of Madrasa Education, and Dr Abdul Rashid, Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic Arabic University, were present at the time, among others.
What BRAC University says about Asif Mahtab
BRAC University, a renowned private university of the country, today issued a statement clearing its stance over the recent incidents involving part-time teacher Asif Mahtab Utsha and demonstration by some students on the campus.
BRAC University said it believes, like all great institutions of higher education, its role should be to create space for all views to be discussed and debated constructively, predicated on tolerance and respect.
The university said that it considers any act of vandalism towards national property as unacceptable behavior and does not tolerate or support such activities.
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“The recent act of tearing pages of a textbook published by the Government of Bangladesh, included in the national curriculum for students enrolled in 7th grade in schools, and asking others to do the same in a public forum, is an act of vandalism, a behavior not supported by BRAC University,” the statement reads.
The university said, it therefore, cannot offer a part-time teaching contract to Asif Mahtab Utsha for the Spring 2024 semester. However, the university will compensate him for his time and efforts towards his preparatory work for Spring 2024.
BRAC University said it respects and fully complies with the country's constitution and laws on all matters. Accordingly, it does not promote homosexuality as has been alleged by some quarters in various social media content.
However, BRAC University said it believes in equal rights and opportunities for every single human being to realize their potential.
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DPS STS Dhaka organises STEAM Carnival to promote innovation
Delhi Public School Dhaka has organised STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Carnival at the school’s Senior Campus to promote innovation and inspire curiosity.
Students from Grades 5-12 got an opportunity to exhibit their knowledge and skills in the fields of STEAM held on Saturday.
The Carnival was held with around 2,000 visitors for the second time, according to a media release.
JnU student Khadija discharged from one DSA case
Apart from students of DPS STS, students from Singapore School Kinderland, The Aga Khan School, Dhaka, Chittagong Grammar School, Scholastica, and International Hope School Bangladesh also participated in the STEAM Carnival.
The projects represented creativity, innovation, and a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
JnU student Khadija discharged from one DSA case
Jagannath University (JnU) student Khadijatul Kubra was discharged from a case filed under the Digital Security Act at Kalabagan police station in the capital.
However, the other case, filed at Newmarket police station, was postponed for hearing till February 29.
Dhaka Cyber Tribunal judge AM Zulfiqar Hayat passed the order on Sunday.
Don't put pressure on children for study: JnU VC Sadeka Halim
In October 2020, police filed two cases against Khadija and retired Maj Delowar Hossain at the Kalabagan and New Market Police Stations for 'spreading anti-government propaganda and harming Bangladesh's reputation.'
The allegations in the two cases filed a week apart were similar.
Police arrested Khadija on September 17, 2022.
JnU to organise 3-day theatre festival from January 28
Khadija suffered over 14 months of jail in the DSA cases, and finally walked out of jail on Nov 20, 2023, after securing bail from the Supreme Cout.
According to the case details, Khadija and Delowar conspired to broadcast false, fabricated, and defamatory propaganda about the prime minister, various government agencies, and senior state officials in order to oust the country's legitimate administration. They were aiming to destroy communal harmony through their conspiracy by promoting enmity, hatred, and division among various communities, it said.
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Khadija was 17 when the cases were filed under the Digital Security Act in 2020, but the case was filed showing her as an adult, according to her lawyer.
Despite having kidney disease, Khadija's bail petitions were repeatedly denied by a Dhaka court.
SSC exams to begin February 15; coaching centres to remain closed for a month
All coaching centres will remain closed for a month as the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations are scheduled to begin from February 15, said Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel.
This year, a total of 20,24,192 examinees will appear in the examinations from 29,735 educational institutions at 3700 centres, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting over ensuring fair and copying-free environment during the examinations.
EWU hosts freshers’ orientation for the 2024 Spring Semester
The coaching centres will remain shut from February 13 to March 12, he added.
The meeting also decided that no mobile phone and electronic devices will be allowed in the examination centres and only the hall secretary will be allowed to use a general phone set without internet connection.
Don't put pressure on children for study: JnU VC Sadeka Halim
The question code will be announced 25 minutes before the exam begins.
Secretary to the Secondary and Higher Secondary Educaiton Soleman Khan, Secretary to the Technical and Madrasha Education Department Farid Uddin Ahmed, chairman of all education boards and law enforcing agencies were present at the meeting.
Education Minister calls for further review of exam and evaluation system
EWU hosts freshers’ orientation for the 2024 Spring Semester
The orientation programme for the newly admitted students for the Spring Semester 2024 of the East West University (EWU) was held in the EWU campus, Aftabnagar in the capital on Thursday.
According to a press release, approximately 1600 students were admitted to undergraduate and graduate programmes in the 13 different departments this semester.
Don't put pressure on children for study: JnU VC Sadeka Halim
The objective of the orientation programme was to welcome the new students and introduce them to university facilities, faculty members, the academic systems and the rules and regulations of the institution. Each Department of the EWU arranged individual programmes for their newly admitted students.
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Professor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, Chief Adviser of the EWU and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank joined the orientation programme, along with EWU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shams Rahman, Pro-VC Professor Dr M Ashike Mosaddik, Deans and several successful alumni members of the University.
Speakers welcomed the freshers to the EWU campus and encouraged them to try to work harder and be future leaders of the country.
JnU to organise 3-day theatre festival from January 28
Along with academic education, they also urged the newly admitted students to make the best use of university resources such as clubs, libraries, research laboratories, and take the opportunity to develop human qualities and innovative abilities.
Don't put pressure on children for study: JnU VC Sadeka Halim
Jagannath University (JnU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Sadeka Halim advised parents not to put pressure on their children for study.
She made the call while addressing as the chief guest at the 21st founding anniversary of HEED International School near the university on Thursday.
Addressing the teaching method, the VC said, “Don't put too much pressure on kids to study. Don't make them robots. Don’t ask them that he or she will have to get an A+, they must get a chance in medical colleges, universities. Don't put that pressure on students. In this way, the tendency to commit suicide among students is noticed.”
She also said that nowadays parents start competition to have a GPA 5 from schools and they even wonder why the children achieved four out of five.
“Many guardians are worried about it but we should be careful about the development of the children' mental health,” she observed.
Calling the children as a future asset, she said, “I see the future of Bangladesh in the children. One thing must be remembered that currently the condition of children in Bangladesh is not good. Only 27 percent of children in the country live in cities. A large proportion of the rest are deprived of proper educational opportunities.”
Education Minister calls for further review of exam and evaluation system
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel on Thursday urged the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) to make recommendations to the policymakers for further review of the examination and evaluation system.
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The minister made the request after a views exchange meeting with the experts of the examination and evaluation system at the Curriculum and Textbook Board in the capital's Motijheel on Thursday.
He also urged them to discuss with experts and gather information from the experience generated up to January and February, the first month of the academic year over the issue.
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Among others, Chairman of National Curriculum and Textbook Board Md Farhadul Islam, and Dhaka University IER Professor Dr Tariq Ahsan were present.
JnU to organise 3-day theatre festival from January 28
The Theatre and Performance Studies Department of Jagannath University (JnU) is going to organise a three-day theatre festival.
Catharine Purification, chairman of the Theatre Department, announced the festival in a press conference on Thursday held in the central auditorium of the university.
The festival will be held for the second time in the central auditorium of the university on January 28, 29 and 30.
Catharine Purification said that next Sunday (January 28) at 11 am the programme will be inaugurated in the presence of the vice-chancellor of Jagannath University (JnU), prof. Dr. Sadeka Halim and prominent actor Asaduzzaman Noor, also an MP.
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In this festival, six dramas will be staged. They are “Radhaman Dhanpudi” by Mohammad Khorshed Alam, “Letter to a Child Never Born” by Oriana Fallaci, “Raktakadam” and “Jomaloye Ekbela” by Manmath Roy, “Tapaswi O Tarangini” by Buddhadev Bose and “Miss Julie” by August Strindberg.
These dramas will be staged under the guidance of students as part of the 'Student Drama Instruction' course of the 2017-18 academic year of the Theatre department.
On the first day, “Radhaman Dhanpudi” will be staged at noon and “Letter to a Child Never Born” at 6 p.m. On January 29, “Raktakadam” will be staged at noon and “Tapaswi O Tarangini” at 6 p.m. And the last day, January 30, “Miss Julie” will be staged at noon and “Jomaloye Ekabela” at 6 p.m.
Anyone can enjoy each play with only Tk50 for students of Jagannath University and Tk100 for outsiders.
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The students of the academic year 2017-18, who will perform in the dramas, are: Parma Raha, Milton Chakma, Priya Banik, Alimul Islam, Jobaida Faisal Eva, Ibrahim Zaman Elin, Shamima Akhter Swarna, Ibrahim Hossain Sanim, Shafiqul Islam, Arifur Islam, Lamia, Shakeel Ahmed, Ucchash Talukdar, Sabiha Haque, Nafis Ismam Tashiq, Anika Ibnat Anamika, Md. Manyur Islam Nibir, Jannatul Ferdous Runa and Shahinul Islam Sagar.
IU expels ex-BCL activist, suspends five students
The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia on Wednesday expelled a student, also an ex-activist of the ruling Awami League-backed student organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League, for vandalising the university medical centre.
Five other students were also suspended from the university temporarily for torturing a fresher in the human resource management department.
The decision was made at a meeting of the university’s disciplinary committee with vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam in the chair in the afternoon.
The expelled, Rezwan Siddiqi Kabbo, was a student of the law department under 2018-19 academic session and also an IU BCL activist.
Four other suspended students were Hisham Nazir Shuvo, Mizanur Rahman Emon, Shahriar Hasan Pulok, Sheikh Sala Uddin Shakib and Sadman Sakib Aqib. All are students of the human resource management department under the 2021-22 academic session of the university.
The vice-chancellor issued the expulsion order against Kabbo and the suspension order against Shuvo, Emon, Pulok and Shakib for violating rules and regulations of the university, IU proctor professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad said.
Kabbo was expelled as the probe bodies found his involvement in vandalising the university medical centre while the rest of the four other students were expelled for their involvement in torturing a fresher, the proctor said.
Earlier, Kabbo and two of his accomplices vandalised equipment at the university medical centre on the campus in Kushtia on July 11, 2023.
The university administration suspended them on July 15.
On September 3, a group of students, including Hisham Nazir Shuvo, Mizanur Rahman Emon, Shahriar Hasan Pulok, Sheikh Salauddin Shakib and Sadman Shakib Akib of the human resource management department brought a fresher of the same department to Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman Auditorium area after his orientation class on September 2 and tortured him mentally. They tortured him again on September 3.
On September 10, the victim filed a complaint with proctor M Shahadat Hossain Azad, student adviser Professor Shelina Nasrin and acting registrar HM Ali Hasan in this connection seeking punishment for the accused involved in torturing him.
The university authorities formed a five-member probe body, headed by IU business administration faculty dean Professor M Shaiful Islam to look into the matter.
On October 3, the university authorities expelled IU BCL unit former activist Rezwan Siddiqi Kabbo for vandalism and Hisham Nazir Shuvo and Mizanur Rahman Emon for torturing the fresher of the human resource management department.
The university administration also suspended Pulok, Shakib and Akib for their alleged involvement in torturing the fresher.
Later, the university authorities on October 4 withdrew their decision about expelling three students following a demonstration staged by a group of fellow students of the 2021-22 academic session.