The D-Unit admission test for the 2025–2026 academic session at Jagannath University (JnU) was held on Friday, January 9, in a peaceful and orderly manner. The test, for the Faculty of Social Sciences, took place across six centers including Jagannath University, Banglabazar Government Girls High School, Dhaka Collegiate School, Mohanagar Mohila College, Lalmatia Mohila College, and Wills Little Flower School and College.

A total of 25,826 candidates applied for 610 available seats under the D-Unit, and 22,438 students attended the exam, resulting in an attendance rate of 86.88 percent, approximately 87 percent. During the examination, Vice-Chancellor Professor Md. Rezaul Karim (PhD) visited various halls at the JnU center to observe the overall situation and inquire about the candidates’ experiences.

Treasurer Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Dr. Sanjida Farhana, Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies Professor Dr. Muhammad Manzur Murshed Bhuiya, and Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Sheikh Gias Uddin were also present during the inspection.

The Bangladesh government has initiated steps to dissolve the University Grants Commission (UGC) and establish a new Higher Education Commission under a draft ordinance titled the Bangladesh Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2025. The Ministry of Education has sought stakeholder feedback within 30 working days from December 10, 2025, before finalizing the proposal. The draft outlines that the new commission will be a statutory body with expanded authority, legal personality, and the ability to operate independently from ministerial bureaucracy.

According to the draft, the commission will consist of a chairman, eight commissioners, and ten part-time members, with the chairman holding a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister. The initiative, developed by a nine-member UGC team led by Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, aims to free higher education from bureaucratic constraints and enhance institutional autonomy. Educationists have expressed mixed reactions, praising the government’s intent but warning that excessive centralization could threaten university autonomy and academic freedom.

Stakeholders have urged that the final version be shaped through broad consultation and implemented transparently to strengthen higher education governance rather than deepen bureaucratic control.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has instructed all heads of educational institutions to take necessary measures according to the revised schedule for celebrating National Education Week 2026. The directive was issued through a letter signed by Assistant Director Md. Khalid Hossain on Thursday, referencing a memorandum from the Ministry of Education. The letter includes the updated national-level activity schedule and requests compliance with the outlined timeline.

Earlier, the ministry’s memorandum stated that all institutions must follow the National Education Week celebration guidelines and send daily activity reports via email between January 4 and 20. The reports should include information on the best students, class teachers, institution heads, institutions, upazilas, and education officers at various administrative levels.

The DSHE’s directive aims to ensure uniform implementation of the celebration across the country in line with ministry instructions, emphasizing timely reporting and adherence to the official schedule.

After a long pause, the government has formally initiated the process to include private schools and colleges under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme again. According to the Ministry of Education’s Secondary and Higher Education Division, online applications from non-MPO institutions will be accepted from January 14 to January 25. The announcement was made through a public notice signed by Deputy Secretary Syed A Z M Morshed Ali.

The ministry stated that eligible institutions will be selected based on the new MPO policy issued in 2025. To ensure transparency, applications will be processed exclusively through digital means. Detailed information on eligibility criteria and policy guidelines will be available on the ministry’s official website.

Sources from the ministry indicated that newly selected institutions will begin receiving MPO benefits from the 2025–26 fiscal year. The decision is expected to resolve long-standing salary and allowance uncertainties for thousands of teachers and staff in remote areas of the country.

The Directorate of Primary Education has issued an urgent directive to all primary schools across Bangladesh regarding nationwide competitions and training programs for students. According to a circular signed by Assistant Director Mahfuza Khatun, students under the directorate are invited to participate in the 2026 national art, poetry recitation, debate, and ghazal competitions. Additionally, year-long training in cricket, football, badminton, and karate will be held at district stadiums. Registration for participation is open from January 1 to January 15 through designated websites, and no fees are required.

The directive further states that the events and training programs are organized by Talent Sports Limited. School authorities and relevant officials have been instructed to provide necessary cooperation to facilitate the participation of talented students. The initiative aims to encourage creative and athletic engagement among primary-level students nationwide.

The circular emphasizes that participation is voluntary and free of cost, ensuring accessibility for all students under the Directorate of Primary Education.

The Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has again revised the schedule for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination form fill-up. According to a notice issued on Tuesday, January 6, the form fill-up process will now begin on March 1. The board has also canceled its previous notice issued on January 4.

The new circular, signed by Examination Controller Professor S. M. Kamal Uddin Haydar, instructs that results of the selection tests for HSC candidates must be published by February 26. The board stated that a detailed schedule and full instructions for the form fill-up process will be published later on its official website.

This marks the third time the board has changed the form fill-up date for the current year’s HSC examination, following two earlier announcements.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has published its seventh mass recruitment circular for teachers in private educational institutions across Bangladesh. The circular, released on Monday, January 5, 2026, lists a total of 67,208 vacancies. Among them, 29,571 positions are in schools and colleges, 36,804 in madrasas, and 833 in technical institutions. The online application process will begin on January 10 and continue until midnight on January 17. Details, including vacancy lists, application forms, and conditions, are available on the NTRCA website and the Teletalk Bangladesh Limited portal.

According to the circular, applicants must be no older than 35 years as of June 4, 2025, and their teacher registration certificate must remain valid for three years from the date of result publication. Following the Ministry of Education’s directive issued on January 1, currently employed index-holding teachers are not eligible to apply for equivalent positions.

The circular aims to fill long-standing vacancies in private institutions and streamline the recruitment process through a centralized online system.

The interim government of Bangladesh has proposed a major expansion of merit and general scholarships across secondary to higher education levels. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) recently sent a proposal to the Ministry of Education to increase all SSC, HSC, and undergraduate scholarships by 20 percent and to double the monthly and one-time payments for recipients. If approved, the total number of scholarship holders would rise from 41,000 to 49,151 nationwide.

According to DSHE officials, the plan aims to maintain parity with the recently enhanced junior scholarships and to address rising living and educational costs since the 2015–16 fiscal year. The proposal includes detailed revisions: SSC scholarships would increase to 30,600 recipients, HSC to 12,600, and undergraduate (honours and pass) to nearly 6,000 combined. Monthly stipends and annual grants would be doubled across all categories.

The Ministry of Education is currently reviewing the proposal before forwarding it to the Finance Division for approval. DSHE expects implementation within the current fiscal year once funding is cleared.

The Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has issued an urgent directive regarding the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations. According to a notice signed by Examination Controller Professor S M Kamal Uddin Haydar, test or selection exams for students intending to sit for the 2026 HSC will begin in February. The results of these tests must be published by March 10. The notice, described as 'highly urgent,' was released on Sunday in a revised form.

While the board confirmed that the test exams will start in February, it did not specify an exact date. The notice further stated that the HSC form fill-up process will begin on March 11. A detailed schedule and full instructions for form submission will be published later on the board’s official website.

The directive aims to ensure timely preparation and administrative readiness for the upcoming HSC examinations, maintaining the academic calendar for 2026 as planned.

Many secondary-level students in Bangladesh have not yet received their textbooks for the new academic year, though the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) claims improved performance compared to previous years. In a statement issued Sunday, NCTB said that despite printing contracts running until February 3, all remaining secondary and technical books would be delivered by January 15 through intensive monitoring. As of January 3, 84.78 percent of the total 300.25 million textbooks had been supplied.

The board reported that all pre-primary and primary books, totaling 85.93 million copies, were fully printed and distributed before Victory Day, ensuring delivery to students on January 1. However, printing and delivery for secondary and Ebtedayee levels remain incomplete, with 88.50 percent printed and 78.69 percent delivered. School heads from Dhaka and Keraniganj confirmed shortages, particularly for grades eight and nine.

Officials and publishers cited low tender rates as a key reason for delays, with some presses reluctant to print at reduced prices. NCTB’s distribution controller said more than half of grade eight books had reached schools and expressed confidence that all secondary books would be delivered by January 15.

Comilla University has expelled 12 students for one semester after finding them guilty of using unfair means during final examinations. The decision was finalized at the university’s 107th syndicate meeting on December 28, following recommendations from the disciplinary committee. In addition, one student’s internship report was canceled for proven forgery, and another was ordered to retake an entire course due to malpractice during an improvement exam.

The expelled students belong to various departments including Physics, English, ICT, Economics, Archaeology, and Mass Communication and Journalism. The university administration stated that it remains uncompromising about maintaining examination integrity and academic discipline. It emphasized that no leniency will be shown toward unethical acts such as cheating or forgery.

According to the administration, the expelled students will not be allowed to sit for exams with their current batch and must continue their studies with the next batch, reinforcing the university’s strict stance on academic misconduct.

Dhaka University has published the admission test results for its Business Studies Unit for the 2025–26 academic year. The results were officially announced on Sunday night after 10 p.m. through the university’s website, according to the university’s public relations office. Applicants can now check their results by logging into admission.eis.du.ac.bd or by sending an SMS following the instructions on their admit cards.

The results show a significantly lower pass rate compared to last year, with about 90 percent of candidates failing to achieve the minimum passing marks. Out of 34,062 applicants competing for 1,050 seats, only 10 percent passed, meaning roughly 32 candidates vied for each seat. The admission test was held on December 6 across the Dhaka University campus, various centers in the capital, and four divisional cities.

According to the seat distribution, 930 seats are allocated for Business Studies students, 95 for Science students, and 25 for Humanities students.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) is set to publish its seventh mass circular to recruit more than 67,000 teachers for non-government educational institutions. According to NTRCA sources, the age calculation for applicants will be based on June 4, 2025, the same date used in the previous sixth circular. No changes have been made to this age calculation method.

However, the upcoming circular introduces significant changes in the application process. Candidates will now be allowed to select a maximum of seven preferred institutions from the list of vacancies, a sharp reduction from the previous limit of 40 institutions. Additionally, an “Other Option” will be available in the e-application form, allowing applicants to indicate whether they are willing to accept appointments outside their chosen institutions.

Officials said the new system aims to make the recommendation process simpler and more efficient for both applicants and the authority.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has announced a new date for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination form submission. According to a notice signed by Exam Controller Professor Haydar Uddin Kamal on Sunday, January 4, the new date for starting the form fill-up process has been set for March 11.

The notice stated that all heads of institutions under the Dhaka Board must complete the selection tests for HSC candidates and publish the results by March 10. The board also mentioned that a detailed schedule and full circular regarding the form fill-up process will be published later on the board’s official website.

The announcement aims to ensure that all institutions under the Dhaka Board complete necessary preparatory steps before the form submission begins, maintaining a structured timeline for the 2026 HSC examination process.

Eight flights scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were diverted on Sunday due to dense fog. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed the diversions, citing safety concerns for takeoff and landing operations. The affected flights were rerouted to alternative airports to ensure passenger and aircraft safety.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority’s public relations officer, Kawsar Mahmud, six of the diverted flights were sent to Sylhet Osmani International Airport, one to Kolkata Airport, and another to Hanoi Airport in Vietnam. The diversions were implemented as visibility at Dhaka airport dropped significantly, making normal operations unsafe.

The situation highlights the continuing challenges posed by seasonal fog in Bangladesh’s air transport sector, which often disrupts flight schedules during winter mornings.