United News of Bangladesh

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon Sunday said the government is determined to bring English-medium O Level and A Level education, and its students, into the mainstream. "I wanted to bring English-medium education under a regulation before, but for some reason it could not be done," Milon said at a seminar at a city hotel at Karwan Bazar. The seminar was themed on expanding public university admission opportunities for students of national and international curricula and ensuring a fair and inclusive environment in higher education. The minister criticised the lack of interest among English-medium students in Bangladesh's public universities as well as the limited scope for their admission. Sharing a recent experience, he said only two of nearly 1,000 students at a Jahangirnagar University orientation were from English-medium backgrounds. "This can hardly be good news," he said. Holding universities and the University Grants Commission (UGC) equally responsible for the low admission rate, the minister said neither could shirk accountability. Noting that many English-medium graduates once rose to important positions in the country and proved their merit, the minister said, “That is not seen now. We have to find out why English-medium students are failing to contribute to the country." Participants at the seminar discussed policy, structural and procedural barriers facing students of international curricula in entering higher education. Key issues included eligibility for public university admission, equivalence of international qualifications such as O Level and A Level, application procedures, and the alignment of admission test structures with the academic preparation of students from different curricula. Speakers emphasised ensuring fair opportunities for students of all curricula while maintaining merit-based selection and academic standards. They also explored ways to make the admission system more transparent, easier to follow and inclusive, taking into account differences in content and assessment between national and international curricula. The seminar also touched on the entry of international curriculum students into medical colleges, engineering universities and other higher education institutions.

The 54th convocation of the University of Dhaka (DU) will be held on January 26 next year. A meeting was held at the auditorium of Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of the university on Sunday to finalise preparations for holding the convocation in a smooth, orderly and festive atmosphere. President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is set to preside over the ceremony while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has consented to attend as the guest of honour, according to a press release of the university. Professor Dr Atsushi Sunami, president of Japan’s Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), will attend as the convocation speaker and receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Professor Dr Muhammad Harunur Rashid, a major donor to one of the university’s trust funds, will also receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree. DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam chaired the meeting. Graduates and medal recipients who obtained their results between November 20, 2022, and November 30, 2026, will be eligible to participate in the convocation. Applications for participation will be accepted from November 1 to November 30, 2026. An executive committee, a management committee and several sub-committees were formed to ensure the smooth conduct of the ceremony. Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr Abdus Salam, Treasurer Professor Dr M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Senate members Md Amanullah Aman MP, Khairul Kabir Khokon MP and A K M Fazlul Haque Milon MP attended the meeting. Deans of various faculties, provosts of residential halls, departmental chairpersons, institute directors and heads of administrative offices were also present. VC Prof Obaidul Islam sought the cooperation of all concerned to ensure a smooth, peaceful and festive celebration of the convocation. He urged the sub-committees to begin work immediately to ensure the event’s success. He also called for collective efforts to advance education and research, maintain a conducive academic environment and enhance the university’s international reputation.  

Dr M Khalid Hossain, Senior Scientific Officer at the Institute of Electronics under the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), has been named among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists for the fourth consecutive year. Stanford University and research publisher Elsevier jointly published the prestigious global list for 2026 on October 8. The ranking evaluates researchers worldwide across 20 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields based on Scopus-indexed research publications, categorizing them by career-long impact and single-year research impact. Dr Hossain secured a place in both categories on the 2026 list. In the career-long impact category, he ranked 55th among 105 Bangladeshi researchers included so far. Meanwhile, in the single-year impact category, he ranked fifth nationally among 347 Bangladeshi scientists. Reflecting on his recurring global recognition, Dr Hossain shared that his decision to return to Bangladesh after completing higher studies in Japan was rooted in a commitment to advance domestic scientific research. "It is my duty to contribute to scientific research in my country by using my knowledge and experience. That is why I returned to Bangladesh instead of taking a job or remaining in Japan after completing my degree. I believe I have been able to give something back to my country, even if only to some extent, and I consider this a major achievement for me," he said. Dr Hossain earned his BSc and MSc degrees with first-class honors from the Department of Applied Physics, Electronics and Communication Engineering (currently Electrical and Electronic Engineering) at Islamic University. He joined BAEC as a scientific officer in 2012. In 2021, he completed his PhD in Nuclear Energy Materials from Kyushu University in Japan under the Japanese government’s MEXT Scholarship program. A prolific researcher, Dr Hossain has authored 11 science books and published over 350 peer-reviewed articles in internationally recognized journals. His scholarly work has garnered more than 20,000 citations, with a reported h-index of 75. His core research interests span nuclear energy materials, solar cells, fuel cells, nanomaterials, ceramics, hydrogen energy materials, electrochemical devices, and proton-conducting oxides.

Matching a student's research field with that of the supervising professor improves the chances of securing the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship, Japan Embassy official Yu Aoyagi has said. Mr. Aoyagi, head of the Public Relations and Culture Section at the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, made the remarks as a special guest at the "The Japan Education Seminar 2026" on Saturday morning. He said seats for embassy recommendation are very few, usually around ten, making the opportunity extremely limited. All students of the last three years were asked what the biggest factor behind their success in securing the MEXT scholarship was, he said. Most replied that their research topic matched the research field of their supervising professor. "So we advise all students to find out which professor's research field matches their research topic," he said. He added that "Navi Japan" can help in this regard. It will also help students understand which universities offer English-medium programmes and which universities they wish to apply to, he said. The seminar was held at the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). It was jointly organised by the Japanese Universities Alumni Association in Bangladesh (JUAAB) and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh. BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam Sarder attended as chief guest, while JUAAB President Prof. Dr. ATM Zafrul Azam presided over the programme. Convener of the organising committee Prof Dr M Zulfikar Rahman was also present. Prof. Azam said competition has increased as the quota for government scholarships in Japan has been somewhat reduced. However, opportunities for private scholarships and research funds are also growing, he said. Under agreements with various universities, students are getting tuition fee waivers of 80 to 90 percent, he added. Prof. Dr. Sarder said opportunities for higher education and research in Japan are expanding day by day. Institutional memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various Japanese universities and a strengthening network of alumni of Japanese universities are making the path to higher education easier for Bangladeshi students, he said. The vice-chancellor also said Japan offers diverse opportunities for higher education and research, including scholarships, at the master's, PhD and postdoctoral levels. Advanced research infrastructure, modern facilities and cultural similarities have made the country a promising destination for Bangladeshi students, he added. He also said students should make use of opportunities to learn the Japanese language under the University Grants Commission's (UGC) third language policy. They should also increase communication with relevant teachers at Japanese universities, which will make it easier to avail higher education and research opportunities, he said. Dr. Md. Imdadul Haque, Senior Scientific Officer of the Plant Breeding Division at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), and Dr. Md. Masud Rana, Associate Professor of the Department of Agricultural Extension Education at BAU, shared their experiences of higher education and research in Japan. Admission requirements at different Japanese universities, the MEXT scholarship application process, preparation of research proposals, selection of supervisors, and post-study employment opportunities were discussed at the event. Later, the speakers answered students' various queries in a question-answer session.

Eight students of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka have received the Ali Riaz Postgraduate Research Awards and Scholarships for their research work. Of them, two students received the Ali Riaz Postgraduate Research Award, while six others were awarded postgraduate research scholarships. DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam handed over the awards and scholarship cheques to the students as the chief guest at a programme held at Prof Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium on Wednesday. The Department of Mass Communication and Journalism organised the programme. Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and acting chairman of the department Prof Kazi Mohammad Mahbobor Rahman presided over the programme, while Distinguished Professor Dr Ali Riaz of Illinois State University in the United States attended as the guest of honour. Prof Robaet Ferdous moderated the programme. Congratulating the scholarship recipients, the vice-chancellor said the success of students is made possible by the contributions and support of their families, parents and society. He urged the students to repay those contributions by becoming responsible citizens and skilled human resources and playing their part in building a happy, prosperous and inclusive society and country. Prof Obaidul Islam said it is not possible to advance the university by relying solely on government funding, stressing the need for private-sector partnerships and support from alumni. He said the university’s education and research could be raised to international standards through collective efforts. The vice-chancellor also called for establishing large-scale endowment funds by involving alumni in every department of the university. The recipients of the Ali Riaz Postgraduate Research Award are Arthee Nabanita and Farah Zahan Shuchi. The six scholarship recipients are Farah Zahan Shuchi, Usama Rafid, Azra Humayra, Kouritra Poddar Tirtha, Mohammad Al Mukit and Muhammad Muzzammil Haque.  

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has recommended ensuring proper quality and nutrition in the ongoing school feeding programme at primary schools, recommending disciplinary action against those responsible for any lapses. The recommendation was made at the committee’s first meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday, chaired by its chairperson Mahmuda Habiba. It also suggested the number of primary schools to ensure enrolment of all children in the country. The committee recommended that all vacant posts of headteachers in government primary schools be filled quickly. The meeting discussed the sector-wise allocation and expenditure plans of the Directorate of Primary Education, Bureau of Non-Formal Education, Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Trust, National Academy for Primary Education and Monitoring Unit for Implementation of Compulsory Primary Education under the ministry. The proposed budget allocations and expenditure plans up to June 30, 2027 were presented through a PowerPoint presentation. Committee members took part in discussions on the presentation and made several recommendations concerning primary education. The committee recommended introducing compulsory moral education at the primary level. The committee stressed proper implementation of budget allocations in different sectors under the ministry. It also advised all committee members to conduct on-site visits to primary schools while classes are in operation to observe their activities.

The government has appointed 40 more candidates to the education cadre under the 49th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS), according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration Monday night. The appointments were made in the second phase following recommendations by the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC). Earlier, on September 30, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification appointing 611 candidates to the education cadre under the 49th BCS. Following the earlier appointments, some BCS candidates who had been recommended by the BPSC alleged that many of them had been excluded in the name of police verification. They also launched a movement protesting the issue. According to Monday's notification, the newly appointed candidates have been asked to join at the designated offices of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education by October 12. Unless the Secondary and Higher Education Division issues any further instructions, the appointees will join the ministry concerned on that date. If any appointee fails to join within the stipulated date, it will be considered that they are unwilling to join the service, and their appointment will be deemed cancelled.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the ruling BNP, has formed a two-member committee to investigate allegations of an attack on journalists at Rajshahi University. JCD central vice-presidents ABM Ejazul Kabir Ruel and Manjurul Alam Riad were appointed members of the two-member probe committee. A press release signed by JCD Office Secretary (vice-president rank) Jahangir Alam confirmed the formation of the committee on Sunday night. The release said the organisation had received allegations regarding an “untoward incident” on the campus. The committee was instructed to conduct a proper investigation and submit a written report to the central committee within 24 hours. The committee was formed under the direction of JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, according to the release. At least four journalists were seriously injured in an alleged attack by JCD leaders and activists on journalists and students at Rajshahi University on Sunday night. Those seriously injured were Arifuzzaman Korban, university correspondent of bdnews24.com; Zahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy; Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star; and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal. Around 10 other journalists and several students were also injured in the attack. The injured were receiving treatment at the university’s medical centre.

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon has said those involved in supplying substandard textbooks will face exemplary punishment. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a programme titled “People’s Thoughts on the Development of Kachua”, organised by the Kachua Upazila Association in Dhaka, at the International Mother Language Institute on Saturday. Speaking about the preparation, printing and distribution of textbooks, the minister said there would be no compromise on the quality of textbooks. “The substandard books that have already been found have been cancelled and destroyed. Those involved in supplying substandard books will be given exemplary punishment,” he said. He said no concession would be made in maintaining quality in textbook printing. “There will be no compromise on paper, ink, printing presses or other matters. The Prime Minister wants the country’s printing industry to develop, so no foreign company has been given printing work this year. We have been able to print quality books on time in the past, and I hope we will be able to do so in the future as well, InshaAllah,” he said. The minister said the mid-day meal programme is currently being implemented in primary schools in 150 upazilas to ensure quality education. “The programme will be expanded across the country in the future,” he said. He said students would be able to buy their meals from school canteens using coupons under the programme in the future. He also said plans had been taken to add more food items to the menu. The minister also said sports and cultural books would be introduced in the fourth grade. “We are preparing a new curriculum with emphasis on technical education. There is no alternative to developing human resources amid the changing global situation,” he said. He also outlined plans to establish technical schools and colleges in every upazila, saying a third language would be introduced at these institutions. The minister said two sets of examination question papers would be prepared at two separate locations in the future — one by the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press) and the other by the Army Security Printing Press. “Examinations will be held on time so that students do not lose time from their lives due to the examination process, while disruptions caused by monsoon-related disasters will also be avoided,” he said. He said changes had been made to the re-evaluation process of examination answer scripts based on practical considerations. “We are going to introduce a cross-border education system with the aim of turning Bangladesh into an education hub. The university law will be amended to allow foreign educational institutions ranked among the top 500 by international standards to open branches in Bangladesh if they wish to do so,” he said. The minister urged everyone in Kachua to give the highest priority to education while working for the overall development of the area. The programme was presided over by Jahangir Alam Pradhan. BNP National Executive Committee member and central vice-president of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal Najmun Nahar Baby attended the programme as a special guest. Eminent personalities, educationists, officials, teachers and students from Kachua were also present. The programme also included a reception for meritorious students of Kachua.

Customs intelligence officials have sealed off four warehouses of Toss Bond (Pvt) Limited in South Gulshan of the capital after finding goods stored in four warehouses while only two were declared or authorised. The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), Department of Narcotics Control and Special Response Battalion-1 (SRB-1) conducted a joint operation at Toss Bond and found preliminary discrepancies in its warehouse arrangements, according to a press release. Toss Bond, owned by Sheikh Nur Islam, the father-in-law of content creator Salman Mohammad Muqtadir, has two authorised or declared warehouses.   However, the joint team found goods stored at a total of four warehouses during its on-site inspection, the release said. This means the company was using two additional warehouses that were not among its authorised facilities, officials said. The authorities have sealed off all four warehouses to prevent any transfer or removal of duty-free or bonded goods imported under bond facilities from the unauthorised warehouses. The move was also aimed at facilitating further verification and investigation into the storage of bonded goods by the company. Officials said the matter will be examined further to determine whether bonded or duty-free goods were stored, transferred or otherwise handled in violation of the applicable customs and bonded warehouse rules. The joint operation was conducted as part of the authorities’ efforts to verify the proper storage and handling of goods imported under bond facilities.