Education
ACC begins probe into irregularities in IU mega project
The Anti-Corruption Commission has started an investigation into allegations of embezzlement of Tk 6 crore under the mega project of Islamic University in Kushtia.
ACC started probing the issue three months after an anonymous letter was sent to the university administration and the ACC Kushtia district office regarding the embezzlement.
A letter signed by ACC Kushtia’s assistant director and investigating officer M Saidur Rahman, was issued in this regard on Thursday night.
An allegation of embezzling Tk 6 crore 25 lakh from third phase development work of the university’s second administration building under the mega project was brought against some unnamed unscrupulous people including IU acting chief engineer, executive engineer, supervising engineer, project director, former and current leaders of the university BCL unit submitting two fake bills.
ACC Kushtia district office sought information from the university administration on the related projects for the purpose of investigation.
They also sought the latest bills of the second administration building of the third phase development project of the university.
They requested the university administration to take necessary measures to send the original copies of the record to the Anti-Corruption Commission Kushtia district office, the letter said.
The records of the related projects included- the extension work of the second administration building’s third, fourth and fifth floors under the project, the allocation letter and approval letter of the 10-storey building copies of approved estimate, schedule, tender notice, comparative statement of tender, copy of contract, work order, copy of MB and a copy of final bill.
ACC Kushtia office’s assistant director and investigating officer Saidur Rahman said that they sent a letter in view of the complaint at the head office. He received the records related to the project sent by the university administration but the documents had not been opened yet.
Earlier, an anonymous letter came to the university administration in November last year. According to the letter, the contractor made a false bill of more than Tk 6 crore in the fifth bill of the second administrative building of the university. The bill and related documents were attached to the letter.
Taking the letter into consideration, IU vice chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam formed a probe body headed by IU Islamic history and culture department Professor M Jahangir Hossain to look into the matter in December last year.
After three months, the investigation committee submitted its reports on March 9 and found the irregularities mentioned in the anonymous letter.
Contacted, IU vice-chancellor Shaikh Abdus Salam said that the investigation committee had submitted its report. No further comments could be made until the syndicate reviews the matter, he added.
JnU teacher Shahed Emon fired, Dept. chairman Junaid Halim suspended
Jagannath University Film and Television Department lecturer Abu Shahed Emon has been temporarily sacked from the university for sexually assaulting a student. The chairman of the department Prof. Dr. Junaid Ahmed Halim has been suspended from the post of chairman for non-cooperation with the students.
This decision was taken in an emergency syndicate meeting on Thursday (March 21). After the Syndicate meeting, the decision was announced by JnU VC prof. Dr. Sadeka Halim.
The vice-chancellor said, “The syndicate has taken this decision as sexual harassment and mental torture have been proven in the report given by the sexual harassment prevention cell. This decision has been taken as there is truth in the complaint filed by the aggrieved student against the teacher. After I came here as Vice-Chancellor, I constituted another Board of Inquiry. We hope to get that report very soon.”
She also said that the temporary dismissal order of Amman Siddique, a student of the university and Assistant Proctor Din Islam, in connection with the death of Abantika, a student of the law department, has been discussed with the syndicate members. The syndicate members have also been informed about the probe committee constituted for investigating the death of Abantika .
Schools with less than 50 students to be merged with nearby schools
Schools in the country with less than 50 students in the last 10 years will be merged with neighbouring schools, said Ministry of Primary and Mass Education secretary Farid Ahmed on Thursday.He said this at a briefing held at the conference room of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education at the Secretariat on Thursday.
Schools to remain open till March 25: Education MinistryThe secretary said, "We will look at the picture of the last 10 years. Schools with less than 50 students will be merged with neighboring schools. We have found about 300 such schools. We are verifying them. However, all schools will not be closed down indiscriminately. Decisions will be taken after considering all the circumstances including local realities."He said there is a upazila called Belaichhari in Rangamati district, where there is a school with only 42 students and the number has been 42 for the last few years. “We will not merge that school. Because those 42 students come from a distance of about 7-8 kilometers. So we will consider that context. So we will not take an entirely general decision."
Schools to remain open during Ramadan as Appellate Division stays HC order“Our policy decision is schools where there have been 5-7 students for the last few years will be merged,” he added.
Primary, secondary schools to remain closed during Ramadan: HC
BUET publishes admission test result for 2024-24
The result of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) undergraduate admission test for 2023-24 academic session has been published.
The final merit list of the admission test consists of a total of 3689 students who cracked the test. However only 1309 students, on the basis of merit position, will be eligible to take admission in BUET.
Adnan Ahmed Tamim, a student of Notre dem College came first in the admission while another student from the same College named Habibullah came second in the test.
However Sudipto Poddar, a student of Pabna Edward College secured the third position in the final merit list.
The BUET result was published on its official website on Tuesday.The list of the passed students has been published in the website www.buet.ac.bd.
The main admission test for the academic year 2023-24 was held on March 10.
Students will be admitted to 13 departments under the faculties of chemical and materials engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and architecture and planning.
Mentioned, viva voce for the admission will begin from March 27 and will continue to March 28 as the admission notification reads.
Professor Dr Abu Taher made new Chittagong University VC
University Grants Commission (UGC) member and Professor of management department of Chittagong University (CU) Dr Md Abu Taher has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the university.
The Education Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday.
With the approval of the President and Chancellor of the university and as per Section 12 (2) of the Chittagong University Act, 1973, Dr. Taher has been temporarily appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University.
Be friendly with children: PM to guardians
The notification also states that the President, also the Chancellor of the university, can cancel the appointment at any time if deemed necessary.
Prof. Abu Taher, hailing from of Kanchana in Satkania upazila, completed higher education and research from Chittagong University, Inha University of South Korea and A & M University of Texas, USA.
After passing the BCS examination in 1985, Abu Taher started teaching at Government Commerce College. In 1995, he joined Chittagong University as a teacher in the Department of Management.
Later, he became a professor of the department in 2004.
Abantika’s death: JnU students place 6-point demand
The students of Jagannath University have placed new 6-point demands following the suicide of fellow student Fairuz Abantika, a student of 2017-2018 academic year of Law department of Jagannath University.
Today (March 17), after a torch lit procession, the general students of the university raised their demand.
The demands are - Immediate investigation should be done and permanent expulsion of student Amman Siddique and teacher Deen Islam from Jagannath University, the then Proctoral Body including Proctor Mustafa Kamal and all those related to the accused should be brought to justice subject to investigation, to ensure that all the previous oppressions are brought to justice as soon as possible, an impartial anti-harassment cell should be formed as soon as possible and complaint boxes should be set up in every department, specialist psychologists should be appointed in the university and no interns should be employed, the demands given by the administration should be implemented within the next 7 working days.
They said that according to their ultimatum, the administration has been able to arrest the accused. The administration has promised them more. They hope that it will be effectfull. “Abantika is technically killed. So they want justice.”
Meanwhile, under the banner of general students, the Socialist Student Front (SSF) held a symbolic protest program with black badge on their faces and ropes around their necks.
Socialist Student Front’s coordinator Ivan Tahseeb said, “Abantika's death is not suicide, it is a murder. Now the victim is blamed. Abantika was brave. She protested injustice. We want to know why Abantika's charge sheet submitted to the proctor's office did not reach the VC.”
Earlier, the first meeting of the investigation committee formed by Jagannath University was held today at noon. Apart from this, the Jagannath University administration organized a milad mahfil at the central mosque of JnU to pray for the departed soul of Abantika.
Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim, treasurer of the university Prof. Humayun Kabir Chowdhury along with Teachers Association and Proctoral Team were present at the event.
Be friendly with children: PM to guardians
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday advised the guardians to become friendly with their children to keep them away from menaces lik terrorism, militancy, drug and corruption.
“There should be a friendly relation with parents. If so, they (children) can’t go astray. They must be given the lesson of honesty from their childhood to keep them away from terrorism, militancy, drug and corruption,” she said.
The premier was addressing a programme organised at Tungipara in Gopalganj to celebrate the 104th birthday anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children Day-2024.
She said the children should be engaged in extracurricular activities like sports, painting, music, and other cultural exercises and religious education alongside their classes.
PM pays tribute to Father of the Nation on his birth anniversary
“I would like to request guardians and teachers that you should pay attention so that the children would be imbued with human values on the one hand and on the other hand they get scopes to flourish their latent talents,” she said.
Noting that education is very essential, Hasina asked the guardians and teachers not to create any undue pressure on the children in the name of education.
She said the children should learn their lessons through sports that would create scope to develop their hidden talent. “We want to go ahead making curriculum accordingly, "she added.
She said in Digital Bangladesh the children now can see the world through digital devices.
“So, they can learn not only by reading the textbooks but also by watching with their eyes. And then they would be smart citizens in Smart Bangladesh. We want it, she added.
The Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged the programme under the management of Gopalganj district administration.
This year the theme of the day is "Bangabandhu’r Swapna Dhore, Anbo Hasi Sobar Ghore (Smiles to be brought to every house with implementation of the dream of Bangabandhu).”
Stand by common people during Ramadan instead of hosting Iftar parties: PM Hasina
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simeen Hussain (Rimi), Women and Children Affairs Secretary Nazma Mobarek, and child Tayeba Tasmeen (on behalf of the children) spoke at the function.
Child Piyasha Jamil presided over the function, jointly moderated by two children Abdur Rahman and Lamiatul Bari.
Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sabirul Islam and Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Kazi Mahbubul Alam were also on the stage.
Cabinet members, members of parliament, political leaders and high officials were present in the programme.
A documentary titled ‘Bangabandhu and Children Rights’ was screened.
The prime minister distributed prizes among the winners of quiz, painting, recitation, patriotic song and dance competition organized by Gopalganj District Administration on the occasion of 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2024.
Besides, 104 insolvent students received Tk 5,000 as a financial donation on the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s Birthday and Children’s Day.
Accused teacher in JnU student Fairuz's suicide note releases statement
Teacher Deen Islam, who was named by Jagannath University student Fairuz Sadaf Abantika as one of two persons responsible for her death before committing suicide on Friday, has tried to explain his position by releasing a statement, that is reproduced in full below:
“Assalamu Alaikum,
I am Deen Islam
Assistant Professor,
Department of Management Education,
Jagannath University.
Firstly I am a human, secondly I am a teacher, thirdly I am a father of two daughters. I request you to listen carefully to my words and run after the real facts. Please don't put my life in danger and orphan my children.
I deeply saddened by the untimely death of Fairuz Sadaf Abantika, a 13th batch student of Jagannath University Law Department. I pray for the forgiveness of Abantika's departed soul.
I am sharing the true story of our student Abantika and her classmates:
The incident was about one and a half years ago. Abantika's batchmates made a general diary (GD) at Kotwali police station where Abantika was also present. GD mentioned that someone harassed them by opening a fake account on Facebook. The police then assured a higher investigation and said that they will find out who is maintaining the ID within the next 72 hours. Hearing this, Abantika confessed to her friends on her way out of the police station and on her way to the campus that she was running the ID (fake account) herself. Then her friends brought her to the proctor's office and filed a written complaint against Abantika on 08.08.2022.
In view of the complaint, Mustafa Kamal, who was the proctor of that time, assigned me and Assistant Proctor Gautam Kumar Saha (Mathematics Department) Sir to investigate on 11.08.2022.
Later on16.08.2022, in the presence of proctor sir, I and assistant proctor Gautam Kumar Saha called Abantika and her parents to come to the proctor's office. Then Abantika's mother came to the meeting and everyone including Abantika's classmates (who had complained) were present. Abantika's mother then hears the truth of the incident to her batchmates (who have complained). Then she said that what her daughter has done is wrong, sincerely apologizes to all those who complained about the incident and promises that her daughter will not do such things again in future and said that if she will do the same thing, they will take her responsibility. Her mother requested to forgive for this time and said, “My daughter is a good student but she is mentally ill for few days and is taking medicine.”
Then her batchmates looked at it humanely and forgivingly. In this way the matter is initially settled. After that, Abantika's mother repeatedly requested the complainants to withdraw the GD. But the complainants refused to withdraw the GD, as they felt Abantika might repeat such behavior in future.
Then it was not possible to withdraw the GD immediately. Complainants said that they will observe her for the next 3 months and if Abantika returns to normal then they will withdraw the GD after 3 months. Troubles are primarily resolved here. A few days later Abantika and her mother came to the university and instead of meeting in the proctor's office, they came to my department as in my area I treated them as best I could. As she is from my area and she is a guardian I treated her with maximum from my place. On that day, Abantika's mother told me that Abantika's dormitory friends are not treating her well and she is mentally broken.
I then advised them to complain in writing to the proctor's office. Then Abantika's mother said that after what has happened, she doesn't want to do it and said she won't keep her daughter in the dormitory, it will make her studies worse and she will be more mentally broken. Then I told her that she can do what she feels best as a parent. I will continue to cooperate in any need. More than 3 months after the complaint was settled, Abantika and her parents came to the proctor's office to withdraw the GD but her batchmates refused. Then Abantika's parents and Abantika again called me and came to meet in my department.
That time I was taking class. Then and after leaving the class I took them to my room and treated them as best I could. Then they requested me to withdraw GD. I then tried to explain to them that it was out of my hands. Our job is to investigate and report and that's what we were doing. I suggested them to talk to proctor sir and complainers about GD and settle the matter.
Immediately Abantika's mother said in a disappointing tone, “I have been living with two (Abantika and her father) depression patients for so many years. I am also getting very sick and my daughter is suffering from severe depression.” After that I have not had any contact with Abantika and her family till today.”
Deen Islams comment on Abantika's Facebook status before her death:
“First of all the allegations given against me of cooperating with Amman in various ways, which are completely false and baseless. Because the incident that took place on 16/08/2022 was solved. Then there was no discussion with anyone about the matter.
Abantika and her mother were called only once in the proctor's office. At that time Proctor Mustafa Kamal Sir, Assistant Proctor Gautam Saha Sir and her friends, who complained, were present. The issue of multiple calls and harassment is completely false and baseless. Because the matter was settled that day.
The then-Proctor Mustafa Kamal Sir can say well about the non-trial of sexual harassment and intimidation charges brought against Amman in the Proctor's Office in the Suicide Note. I am not aware of this complaint.
I never said anything about the expulsion of Abantika in the suicide note later. Because after the matter was settled, I have not talked or communicated with Abantika or her family even once in the last one and a half years.
“Something I have to say-
As a teacher, it is my moral responsibility to stand by the students and work for them. In the long 11 years of teaching life, I have been with the students with my best. Insh'Allah, I will continue to be in the future.
It is requested not to think wrongly by depending only on the status.
I am fully prepared to provide full cooperation to the University administration and other law enforcement agencies to unravel the true mystery of this unexpected incident.
It is requested to make decisions and comments after knowing the right information.
Thank you everyone.”
Pay 100 percent festival bonus before Eid: Private Teachers-Employees Forum
The leaders of Bangladesh Private Teachers-Employees Forum (BPTEF), a platform of the private institutions teachers and employees, demanded the payment of cent percent of the festival allowances before Eid and removal of all discrimination from the education sector.
They made the demand at a discussion meeting at the Purana Paltan Azad Center on Saturday, organised by the Dhaka City Unit of the organisation, which as an umbrella for the teachers and staff at schools not enlisted in the government's Monthly Pay Order - hence 'private'.
The meeting, with Principal Maulana AKM Mahabubur Rahman in the chair, was addressed by BPTEF President Principal Md. Mainuddin, Principal Emranul Haque, Vice-Principal Md Abdur Rahman, Principal Sahidul Islam, Assistant Professor SM Abdul Hamid, Assistant Professor Md Ismail Hossain, and Assistant Professor Mohibullah Jami.
The program was moderated by the Vice President of the forum Md. Abdur Rahman.
Speakers in the meeting said teachers-employees of the private educational institutions are the victims of different discriminations and deprived of their legitimate rights of 100 percent festival allowances.
Demanding the elimination of discrimination in the education sector under MPO, they said all the Ibtedayee madrasa have to be nationalised.
Speakers also said that currently there is no provision for transfer for private teachers while they are not getting festival allowances like Eid bonus. They are not getting full medical allowance, time scale, home loan, or promotion or pension.
They said only nationalisation of all educational institutions can resolve these problems.
They observed that although thousands of primary schools have been nationalised(meaning enlisted in the MPO), no single Ibtedayee madrasa was nationalised which is clear evidence of discrimination in the education sector.
Fairuz’s death by suicide sparks protest at JnU; accused asst proctor relieved, classmate suspended
Hours after death of Jagannath University student Fairuz Abantika by suicide, massive protest broke out and continued till Saturday morning, demanding justice for the student.
Fairuz Abantika, a student of the 2017-18 academic year of Jagannath University (JnU) Law Department, hanged herself at her Cumilla residence after accusing her classmate and the assistant proctor of the university in a Facebook post around 10 pm on Friday.
Amid protests of the students, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim came to the campus after 1 am. Initially the protesting students did not allow the VC to enter the campus. After a while, they let the VC in.
JnU student commits suicide after posting note on Facebook
The Vice Chancellor then assured them that a fair investigation will be conducted as per the laws of the university.
General students under the banner of ‘Jagannath University Against Oppression, called for a rally on the campus at 3 pm on Saturday, demanding maximum punishment of the accused.
Fairuz’s namaz-e-janaza will be held at her own hometown Cumilla at 12 pm today.
Meanwhile, the university administration relieved assistant proctor Deen Islam from her duty and suspended classmate Amman Siddique.
Besides, the university administration has formed a four-member probe committee with Masum Billah, dean of the Faculty of Law, as the convener and Law Officer Ranjan Kumar Das as the member secretary. The other members of the committee are the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Abul Hossain and Music Department Chairman Jhumur Ahmed.
In her Facebook post before committing suicide, Fairuz Abantika said that her classmate Amman Siddique and assistant proctor Deen Islam would be responsible for her suicide.
Locals taking matters into their own hands as police fail to act on complaint against CU BCL unit
'If I ever die by suicide, my classmate Amman Siddiqui and assistant proctor Deen Islam, who supported him, will be solely responsible for my death. I complained to the Proctor's office that Amman was threatening me offline and also online but I did not get any benefit. Deen Islam scares me in many ways for the sake of Amman. He said that expelling me is very easy for him. I know I won't get any justice here,” she wrote.