University Grants Commission
A 18- member high powered delegation led by UGC Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan successfully completed its five day tour to Japan. Other members of the delegation included two Additional Secretaries and a Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Education, a Chief of Division of the Planning Commission and ten senior faculty members of five Engineering and Technology Universities of the country, along with a member of UGC and its Director of Planning. It may be mentioned that immediately after Sheikh Hasina formed the government in 2008 . it took up as a priority to enhance the research and teaching capabilities of all the public universities of the country with emphasis on science, engineering and technological skill development through research. Five technology- based universities, including BUET were selected as pioneering universities under the new initiative and an amount of US$ 20 million were allocated from the government fund. It was decided to establish five new departments in these universities namely, Glass and Ceramics, Petroleum and Mining, Leather Technology and Textiles. The delegation explored the possibilities of collaborative research, faculty and student exchange and enhancing the research capabilities of the laboratories of the universities of Bangladesh. They visited three universities, five research organizations, discussed issues of mutual interest with key persons and agreed on steps to be taken to move the initiative forward. All concerned agreed to work together to improve the science and technology education in Bangladesh. On the final day the team had an extended meeting with Dr. Takao Toda, Director General, Human Development Department of JICA and his senior colleagues at its headquarters.
National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways
The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways urged the government for an impartial and fair investigation over ‘No Objection Certificate (NOC)’ of Department of Shipping (DOS) for going abroad using airways.Leaders of the committee also expressed their concern about reforming the probe body formed by DOS authority. In a joint statement issued by National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) Adviser Manzurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary Ashis Kumar Dey on Sunday also expressed their concern that the real culprits might go behind the screen if the probe was delayed and if it was not impartial. On June 14, DOS formed a probe body over issuing NOC for going abroad through airport, violating the inter-ministerial decision taken seven months ago. The two-member committee was headed by ‘Engineer and Ship Surveyor’ Mirza Saifur Rahman of DOS. The committee was asked to submit its report by 20 working days.The other member of the committee is executive magistrate Badrul Ahsan Liton of DOS.The probe body was formed by the DG of DOS following a letter of the Special Branch (Immigration) of police but on June 22, the committee was reformed with the Director of Seaman immigration and Welfare Directorate Nurul Alam Nizami as the head. Badrul Hasan Liton was kept a the member of the reformed committee. The commitee was reformed by DG, DOS following a complain of signatory officer of questioned ‘NOC’ SM Nazmul Haque against of Mirza Saifur, who was head of first probe body, says a press release .
Green University Language Center (GULC)
Green University Language Center (GULC) has successfully organized a recruitment seminar on scholarship in China at Green auditorium of Green University of Bangladesh recently. The title of the scholarship was “Confucius Institute Scholarship Teachers Training Program for students from South Asia”. The program was jointly organized by GULC and Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), China. FANG Ming, Professor, Director of the Institute of Confucius and Confucian Culture, Professor ZHANG Jielin& YANG Fan, Project officer of the Division of Confucius Institute Development, BLCU facilitated the program.The purpose of the seminar was to provide the students with necessary information regarding the scholarship by the concerned University. A large number of students of GUB students along with the faculty members of different departments attended the seminar. Prof. Dr.Md. Golam Samdani Fakir, Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Lt Gen Md. Mainul Islam (LPR), Registrar,Mr. Md. ShahidUllah, Treasurer, Deans, Chairpersons of different departments of Green University also attended the programme . The programme was followed by a social gathering and Iftar party at green garden of the University.
