The New Nation - Internet Edition

JU Correspondent

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) are facing acute problem of session jam due to unscheduled closure, lengthy process of admission tests and negligence of the teachers about their responsibilities. This situation seriously hampers the quality education at the University.

Aftermath of the students' demonstration of Dhaka University in August, JU was closed at a time when the annual examinations of different departments were supposed to be held. After an opening of only 15 days, the university was once again closed for another month on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Ftr and the Durga Puja.

Now, the admission tests for the academic session 2007-2008 have started from November 15 and will continue till 27 of the month. All academic activities of the university will remain closed during this period. As soon as the admission tests are over, the university will go on a long vacation for the winter and the Eid-ul-Ajha.

On the other hand, the teachers of different departments are allegedly spending much of their time in teaching at private universities in Dhaka and are serving with private firms and non-government organizations (NGOs). It is learnt that the teachers of BBA, English, Economics, Urban and Regional Planning (URP), Anthropology, Geology, Bio-Chemistry and some other departments are working in private universities leaving their departments to suffer from marathon session jam. Those teachers show negligence to classes lecture, though, according to the rules of the university, teachers of different levels are supposed to take 12, 10, 8 or 6 classes a week.

On a visit to these departments this correspondent found that the students have to spend about eight years to complete their 5 year long courses. In many departments there are 7 to 8 batches of students in place of regular 5 creating serious congestion in academic activities. Every academic year has students of two categories: old and new.

Sources said, many times the students of these departments submitted memorandum to their respective departmental heads demanding regular classes, holding of examinations and publication of results of the final exams within 3 to 4 months. Though such regularities are supposed to be a part of the usual procedure, they are now unimaginable in many departments. Recently the 4th year (old) students of the English department submitted an application demanding holding of their honours final exam in the first week of January 2008.

A survey among the teachers and students shows that most of them think that politics of the teachers and students is mainly responsible for the session jam in the university. Because of their political factional conflicts, the teachers do not take classes and exams months after months.

The university authorities are found to keep silent over these issues and seem disinclined to take any action against such violation of the existing rules and regulations of the university.

Prof. Shamsul Alom Salim, chairman of the department of Government & Politics said that both the teachers and students should be keener in doing away with session jam.

The VC of the university Prof. Khandakar Mustahidur Rahman told if the teachers of the concerned departments take initiative then it would be possible to remove session jam once for all.

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Rashed Khan Menon, president of Workers Party, called for immediate help for reconstruction of Sidr-damaged educational institutions.

He also called youths to come forward for helping distressed people and responding his calls Chhatra and Jubo Moitri started house reconstruction works in six unions of Sidr damaged Babuganj Upazila of Barisal.

Menon after visiting Sidr hit areas of Barguna district and Sharikal of Gournadi, Dehergoti, Rakudia, Edilkati, Baherchar areas of Babuganj upazilas under Barisal district recently said Sidr destructed and damaged a huge number of educational institutions of the southern region on eve of ending educational year.

If immediate helps are not given for reconstruction of educational institutions, then valuable times from the lives of the student would be lost and continuation of their educational lives would be harder, Menon added. Menon visited the house reconstruction works of Chhatra and Jubo Motri, the students and youth organ of the party, in the Sidr affected areas of Babuganj Upazila said youths of Bangladesh always stood by the side of the distressed peoples and their struggles. This time it would not be an exception.

Menon also called the youths to come forward and continue their fight against corruption and drug addiction.

He distributed relief items in cash and kinds during his visits. Prof. Abdus Sattar, Nazrul Huq Nilu, Isahuq Sharif, Golam Hossain, Zakir Hossain, Comrade Bazlur Rahman, Abu Taleb, Matiur Rahman, Khalilur Rahman, Atikur Rahman Shahin Mahmud, Sohel Mahmud, Kamal Parvez, Arif Hossain Saddam, Hasanur Rahman Pannu, Abu Hanif. Saidul Islam, Zakir Hossain Khokan and other leaders and activists of the party accompanied Menon during his visits.

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Two teams of physicians from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) have started for Shoronkhola of Bagerhat on Friday with aid materials and relief for the hurricane Sidr-hit people.

The teams would provide treatment facilities to the affected people for a couple of days and distribute relief and healthcare items worth Tk 4.75 lakh. RMCH medicine specialist Dr Kazi Tarikul Islam and Rajshahi BMA president Dr Wasim Hossain were leading the teams.

RMC principal Prof Dr Fazlur Rahman, RMCH director Col Dr Zahangir Hossaon Mollik, BMA and Medical Teachers' Samity were assisting the programme.

The relief material include 200 pieces of Sari, 200 pieces of Lungi, 100 pieces gamcha, 40 tents, 100 blankets, 350 pieces chadors, food items, water purifying tablets and medicines.

Different medicine manufacturing companies contributed the healthcare items.

SYLHET, Nov 26: Two more children of a family died of 'Viral Encephalitis' in Companyganj upazila Friday, raising the number of deaths here due to the malady to 24 in the last three weeks. The dead were identified as Saifur Rahman,8, and Surupa,4, - children of Saju Miah of Megahrgao village of the upazila. Saju Miah admitted his wife and four children to Osmani Medical College Hospital with symptoms of the disease Friday morning where two of his children died. Besides, the disease has affected five more children of the same village. Dr Provat Ranjan Dey of the hospital said seven people died in the attack by 'Viral Encephalitis' till November 15, but no one was admitted to the hospital with the symptoms of the disease from November 15 to 22. The disease, detected recently after investigation by physicians, broke out in Goainghat upazila on November 2 and Companyganj Uapzila on Nov 5. It claimed 24 lives in the two districts as of November 12, reports UNB.

Our Correspondent, Monirampur

An opinion sharing meeting with the Press Club members of Monirampur Upazila was held at the office of Paritran, (a voluntary Human Development Organisation) Manirampur branch on November 24.

Presided over by Ashak Das the meeting were addressed among others by the Chief Guest New Nation Correspondent Prof MA Razzaque, Press Club President AKM Naseruddin Khan, GC Secretary Prof Abbas Uddin Director. Melon Das, Project Co-ordinator Bikash Das, Tapan Kumar Das and Student leader Bimal Kumar Das.

The speakers opined backward people-an play vital role to build up the society if everybody admits them as a part of the society men. Chief Guest expressed his deep sympathy and said proper education can save the backward people. So it is badly needed to provide education of the backward people first. The Press Club executives assured them to provide all possible help build up the backward people.

Ramakrishna Mission has been continuing its cyclone (Sidr) relief among the affected people of the devastated areas of Barguna and Bagerhat districts. So far it distributed among 2610 affected families in villages Nalibazar, Padda, Nishanbri, Kumirmarar Char, Naltona, Sonatala, Chalitatali, Urubunia, Khalishkhali, Napitkhali, Manikkhali, Nayabazar, Jungalia, Bakkhali Bazar, Alia, Kathaltali, Fuljhuri, Tetulbaria villages of Sadar Uapizla of Barguna district, and South Chapalbari, North Chapalbari, West Chapalbari and Sonatala villages of Sharankhola Upazila of Bagherhat 13 metric tones of rice, 1,305, kg Dal, 1,150 kg salt, 1180 kg potatoes, 2600 pkts oral saline, Chili 20 kgs, 4900 water purifying tablets. All are contiguous villages. The monks and volunteers are continuing relief distribution programme in other affected areas says a press release.

BSS, Kaliganj

Speakers at a views exchange meeting on Open House Day programme stressed the need for sincere cooperation between police and people for rooting out all sorts of social crimes to further developing the overall law and order situation.

Kaliganj police organised the exchanging views with a cross section of people in the society at Kaliganj thana premises on Saturday with Tushbhander UP chairman Mahbubuzzaman Ahmed in the chair.

Addressing on the occasion as the chief guest, Police Super Jomsher Ali of Lalmonirhat said the community policing units, formed in every ward, are working to solve minor problems and disputes among the villagers.

He hoped that the trend of filing cases on minor issues would be reduced to a great extent with the acceleration of community policing activities at the grass roots level.

Our Correspondent, Baraigram

A political leader, District Communist Party Chairman of Natore unit and Bir Muktijoddah Md Ataur Rahman died from a heart attack in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital under treatment on November 15.

Ataur Rahman (54) was the inhabitant of the village Choumuhan under Baraigram upazila. The body of Bir-Miktijoddah Ataur Rahman was buried with state honour.

A Namaz-e-Janaza was held at the school ground of Choumuhan, Baraigram Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Salah Uddin, Upazila Muktijoddah Commander Md Shamsul Islam, Bonpara Pouro-Muktijoddah Commander Md Moslem Uddin, political leaders of different parties, local elite, took part in his Namaz-e-Janaza. He left behind two sons, wife and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.

Cows burnt alive

MUNSHIGANJ, Nov 26: A devastating fire burnt down a dwelling house and killed three cows at Nayagaon village in Tongibari upazila on Friday. Witnesses said the fire originated from the kitchen of Kohinur Begum and soon charred the three rooms of the house at noon. Later, the blaze engulfed the adjacent cowshed and burnt alive the three cows. Local people extinguished the flame after a hectic effort. The extent of damage from the fire was estimated at Tk 5 lakh. Local people said that they faced trouble to extinguish the flame in absence of fire station in the Upazila, reports UNB.

Indian cloths seized

NARAYANGANJ, Nov 26: Huge Indian cloths worth about Tk one crore were seized from a truck at Shimrail crossing under Siddhirganj thana here early on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, police halted the Dhaka bound truck from Chittagong near Amijuddin petrol pump at about 5am. Later, they recovered huge quantity of Indian sari and three-piece. Police also arrested truck driver Abul Kashem, 42, and helper Khorshed, 40, son of Ali Azam of Chouddagram upazila of Comilla. A case was filed, reports UNB.

2 killed in road mishap

HAIGANJ, Nov 26: Two people, including a minor girl, were killed in separate road accidents in Nabiganj Upazila on Friday. Police said Bolai Chandra Sarkar, 35, was crushed under the wheels of a truck at Paniumda on Dhaka-Sylhet highway. He hailed form Brahmanbaria district. In another incident Muslima Begum, 6, daughter of Chunnu Miah of Kamarganj village, was run over and killed by a microbus at Ziapur Natun Bazar on Nabiganj-Inatganj road. Separate cases were filed with the police, reports UNB.

Month long 'Ras Mela' inaugurated in Dinajpur

DINAJPUR, Nov 26: A month long 'Ras Mela' (fair) of Hindu community was inaugurated on the premises of Kantaji temple in the district on Friday on the occasion of Ras festival. Deputy Commissioner of the district AM Saiful Hasan inaugurated the fair. Kaharol Upazila Nirbahi Officer Munjurul Haque, Hindu Welfare Trust member Babu Kanta Lal Shah, district press club president Chitto Ghosh and Somonnoy Durgapuja Ujjapan Committee president Parimol Chakravorty, among others, were present. The traditional Ras festival began on the temple premises at 12:01 AM amid much enthusiasm. Stage drama and puppet shows, among other programmes, have been arranged and various stalls, including rural handicrafts, were set up in the fair, reports UNB.

Sugarcane crushing programme starts

JOYPURHAT, Nov 26: Joypurhat Sugar Mill has stared sugarcane crushing with a target to produce 12,950 mts sugar by crushing 1.75 lakh mts sugarcane in the current season. The crushing programme was formally inaugurated in the mill after a milad mahfil on Friday by throwing cane on the cane carrier. It is to mention that some 1,549.60 mts sugar of last season remained unsold in the mill incurring a huge loss to the mill, reports UNB.

BCSIR engr arrested

JOYPURHAT, Nov 26: An engineer of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) was arrested while taking Tk 10,000 as bribe from the staff of a construction farm on Friday. The arrested was identified as Munir Hossain, 37, assistant engineer of Institute of Mining Mineralogy and Meteorology of BCSIR. RAB sources said Munir Hossain demanded Tk 30,000 from a local contractor for okaying his final bill of construction work. Being informed, the RAB team arrested Munir when he was taking Tk 10,000 from the staff of the farm at the project area as part of his demand. Earlier, Munir took Tk 70,000 from the same farm for giving a favourable report for it, RAB sources said, reports UNB.