Dhaka: Activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) assaulted two Ducsu office-bearers inside Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday evening. The victims are Ducsu Secretary for Literature and Cultural Affairs Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad and Social Welfare Secretary AB Zubair.

Eyewitnesses said JCD activists went to the police station to file a case against Dhaka University student Abdullah Al Mahmud, whom they alleged was linked to Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) and had made a Facebook post they considered offensive. The group had earlier announced the move.

At the same time, Abdullah Al Mahmud also arrived at the police station to submit a general diary over concerns for his personal safety. Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad, A B Zubair, and Fatima Tasnim Zuma accompanied him.

Witnesses said tensions escalated when both sides came face to face inside the station, leading to a confrontation between Ducsu representatives and JCD activists that quickly turned violent. Around 20 to 30 JCD activists then attacked Musaddiq and Zubair inside the police station, assaulting them separately, according to eyewitness accounts.

JCD leaders, however, claimed Musaddiq triggered the violence by attempting to strike a joint secretary of the Chhatra Dal’s Dhaka University unit. Senior JCD leaders later intervened and moved the two Ducsu leaders to a secure area inside the police station.

Witnesses also said a group of activists chanted slogans inside the station for around 20 minutes, demanding that the Ducsu leaders be handed over to them. Senior leaders later dispersed the group from the premises, though they remained gathered at the gate for some time.

Later in the evening, Ramna Zone Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam escorted A B Zubair and Fatima Tasnim Zuma to Shahbagh police station Jame Masjid around 9 pm after they were taken to safety.

RAJSHAHI – The long-standing problem of iron-rich water at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) is set to be resolved. On Tuesday, a modern Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plant was experimentally launched for the first time in four of the university’s residential halls. The university administration hopes this will ensure safe and hygienic drinking water for the resident students.

According to university sources, the technical installation of the plant has been completed on the rooftops of four newly constructed residential halls—Student Hall-1, Student Hall-2, Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani Hall (Female Hall-1), and Female Hall-2.

The project, implemented by the university’s Planning and Development Office, cost approximately Taka 30 lakh being supervised by Professor Dr. H. M. Russell, Director of the Planning and Development Office.

He said, “The plant has initially been launched in these four halls. This initiative can provide an effective solution to the long-standing problem of iron-rich water in the Rajshahi region. There are plans to expand the project further in the future.”

Students have long faced difficulties with drinking water quality due to high iron content in the region’s groundwater. As part of a special initiative by the university administration, these plants have been installed to address the problem.

Reverse Osmosis is a modern water purification method that removes harmful substances, excess salts, iron, and other impurities through a specialized membrane. The resulting water is completely safe and hygienic for drinking.

Students have described the university’s initiative as timely and necessary. They expressed hope that the launch of this plant will provide a permanent solution to water quality issues and anticipate that this facility will soon be extended to other residential halls and academic buildings across the campus. Officials viewed this step to ensure safe water supply as a significant milestone in improving the quality of life on the RUET campus.

DHAKA – University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed has proposed the formation of a ‘BIMSTEC Higher Education Network’ to ensure smooth and seamless exchange of teachers, researchers and students among higher education institutions of BIMSTEC member countries.

He made the proposal while chairing a session at the closing ceremony of a seminar titled ‘Bridging Regions, Building Futures: BIMSTEC under the Spotlight’ held at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University and the BIMSTEC Secretariat. Dr. Mamun said such a regional network would facilitate the introduction of joint degree programmes, easier credit transfer for students and coordinated research activities among universities in member states.

He noted that universities in the region have long operated in isolation despite shared history, culture and development challenges, stressing the need for stronger regional academic cooperation.

Highlighting the current global context marked by geopolitical changes, climate risks and shifting economic priorities, he said it is essential to bring together scholars and policymakers across the region. He emphasized strengthening joint initiatives in digital connectivity, blue economy, STEM education and climate resilience.

He also said the Bay of Bengal is not just a geographical boundary but an important medium of regional connectivity, adding that human resource development must be prioritized to build a stable and prosperous region, where higher education plays a key role.

He underscored the importance of such seminars in aligning higher education with regional needs and called for building concrete partnerships, advancing joint initiatives and strengthening institutional trust. Professor Dr Md Abdul Mannan of Dhaka University delivered the vote of thanks at the end of the event.

DHAKA  – Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today said the government is considering introducing online classes in educational institutions, particularly in metropolitan areas, in view of the evolving global situation.

“In metropolitan areas where students depend on bus transportation, we are considering online classes. But no final decision has yet been taken,” he told journalists after a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Building this afternoon.

Dr. Milon said the government is actively reviewing how classes will be conducted and how the education system will operate in the coming days, taking into account the current international context.

“The issue applies nationwide, but especially in metropolitan areas where students depend on bus transportation, we are considering online classes,” he added, noting that no final decision has yet been taken.

“The Ministry of Education will soon send a set of proposals to the Cabinet Division considering the prevailing global conflict situation,” he said, adding that a final decision will be taken after receiving approval from the authorities concerned.

Referring to the meeting, the minister said that the Prime Minister has given important directives to ensure the continuity of the ongoing pace of the education system, which will be implemented accordingly.

He also noted that due to international crises, along with disruptions caused by Ramadan holidays and various domestic movements, significant instructional hours have already been lost, which the government must take into account.

“However, if we shift completely to online education, there is a risk of becoming socially disconnected. So, any decision will be taken carefully after thorough consideration,” the Education Minister added.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the Education Ministry to explore alternative measures to ease traffic congestion in the capital during school hours. The premier came up with the directive at a meeting with Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj at the Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said possible ways to reduce traffic congestion in city during school hours and what alternative arrangements could be introduced for this were discussed in the meeting.

“The Prime Minister asked the ministry to prepare proposals in this regard,” he added. Explaining the matter, Ruman said, “For example, it has been observed that around 100 cars crowd in front of a school for 150 students, causing serious traffic jams and difficulties for students to reach their institutions”.

The premier advised the minister to address these issues and find alternatives. After the meeting with the education minister, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku and State Minister Aninda Islam Amit also met the Prime Minister. Subsequently, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan also called on the Prime Minister.