Dhaka University has achieved a major milestone by securing the top position in South Asia and ranking 52nd globally in the Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Ranking 2026. The ranking, published by the UK-based Times Higher Education magazine, evaluated 911 universities from 94 countries. This year, 12 Bangladeshi universities—both public and private—made it to the list, with Dhaka University attaining the highest position among them. The interdisciplinary science ranking emphasizes universities’ performance in cross-disciplinary research, assessed through three main frameworks: input (funding and research investment), process (success measurement, facilities, and administrative support), and output (publications, research quality, impact, and reputation). A total of 11 performance indicators were used to determine the final standings. Dhaka University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan, congratulated faculty, students, and staff for their contribution to this achievement, noting the ongoing efforts of a 16-member committee working to improve the university’s global ranking.

Gazipur Agricultural University (GAKRUBI) has been ranked the top agricultural university in Bangladesh in the newly released QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, published by UK-based Quacquarelli Symonds. Among all Bangladeshi public universities, GAKRUBI secured third place and fifth overall when private institutions are included. Out of 1,994 universities worldwide, 22 from Bangladesh made the list. GAKRUBI follows the University of Dhaka and Rajshahi University among public institutions. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. GKM Mostafizur Rahman expressed satisfaction with the achievement, describing it as the result of collective dedication and hard work. He emphasized the university’s ambition to reach the global top 200 and become Bangladesh’s leading institution in future rankings. GAKRUBI has also achieved top positions in other global rankings, including THE and URi, where it ranked 77th globally in the Development and Application category, the highest among Bangladeshi universities.

Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC has granted scholarships to 300 financially disadvantaged yet meritorious students who recently passed the HSC or equivalent examinations and are now enrolled in the first year at various public universities and medical colleges in Bangladesh. The bank will provide a total of Tk 3.81 crore over four years to support these students in completing their undergraduate studies. A scholarship awarding ceremony was held at the bank’s corporate head office, attended by Chairman A.K. Azad as the chief guest, with Director and Foundation Chairman Md. Sanaullah Sahid as special guest. Managing Director Mosleh Uddin Ahmed presided over the event, while SEVP and Company Secretary Md. Abul Bashar conducted the proceedings. The initiative aims to promote higher education opportunities for underprivileged but talented students across the country.

Candidates who passed the preliminary stage of the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination have launched a sit-in and hunger strike at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, demanding more preparation time before the written test. The protest began on Wednesday, November 19, with hundreds of participants carrying banners calling for a ‘reasonable schedule’ and denouncing what they describe as an unfairly short preparation period. The Public Service Commission (PSC) has scheduled the written exams to start on November 27 and continue until December 18, allowing only 40 days of preparation, compared to the usual three to six months in previous BCS sessions. Demonstrators argue that the vast syllabus cannot be covered adequately in such a short time. The written exams will take place across eight regional centers, including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh, with some subject-specific tests held only in Dhaka.

Authorities at Tongi Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa in Gazipur have suspended all academic activities following days of student protests over fee hikes, financial aid demands, and scholarship issues. Tensions escalated after several teachers allegedly assaulted protesting students on November 18, prompting the governing body to expel three teachers—Atiqur Rahman, Sibgatullah, and Kamrul Islam. While the expulsions initially calmed the situation, science students later protested the decision, arguing that one of the expelled teachers was vital to their department. On November 19, hundreds of students gathered demanding the reinstatement of the teachers and launched a signature campaign. In response, the madrasa administration announced through its official Facebook page that all classes from primary to Kamil level and the ongoing Alim second-year exams would remain suspended until further notice. Principal Dr. Hefzur Rahman confirmed the closure, citing the governing body’s directive.

The BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) has signed memorandums of understanding with ten of Bangladesh’s top industrial organizations to strengthen academia-industry collaboration. The agreements were formalized on November 19 with support from the university’s Career Development Center. BUFT Board of Trustees Chairman Faruque Hassan signed on behalf of the university, with other board members and faculty present. The partnering companies include Team Group, Giant Group, Ha-Meem Group, Babylon Group, Eco-Tex Ltd, Fakir Apparels, Sonia Sweater Group, Purbani Group, Paramount Group, and Shasha Denims. The partnerships aim to enhance students’ practical learning, research opportunities, and career development, while fostering stronger ties between the academic and industrial sectors. University officials expressed optimism that the collaboration will create new pathways for innovation and skill development in the country’s fashion and textile industries.

Intuit has entered a multi-year agreement worth over $100 million with OpenAI to integrate its financial and tax applications, including TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, into ChatGPT. The partnership will allow users to perform tasks such as estimating tax refunds, reviewing credit options, and managing business finances directly through ChatGPT. With user consent, Intuit’s apps can access financial data to automate actions like sending invoices or marketing messages. The collaboration marks a significant step in embedding large language models into consumer and business software, reflecting a growing trend across industries. Intuit emphasized that it employs multiple validation methods and domain-specific datasets to ensure accuracy and reduce AI errors. The company will also expand its internal use of OpenAI’s models, including ChatGPT Enterprise, to enhance employee workflows. This deal is expected to broaden Intuit’s reach by making its tools available to new audiences through ChatGPT while deepening its reliance on OpenAI’s frontier AI technologies.

Marking International Men’s Day, the Aid for Men Foundation organized a series of events in Dhaka, including a bicycle rally, procession, and discussion, to raise awareness about men’s rights and call for an end to legal and social discrimination against men. The organization’s general secretary, Saiful Islam Nadim, stated that men in Bangladesh face severe neglect and discrimination in various aspects of life. Speakers at the event emphasized the need to protect men’s human rights and ensure their safety from false allegations and legal bias. The foundation’s theme for the day was ‘Ending Legal Discrimination Against Men,’ aligning with the global theme of ‘Supporting Men and Boys.’ The program featured participation from activists, lawyers, and cultural figures, and concluded with a call for political parties to include men’s rights issues in their election manifestos.

Chinese tech giant Baidu announced a 50% year-on-year increase in revenue from its artificial intelligence (AI) operations, even as its core advertising business experienced a slowdown during the third quarter. The company revealed that sales from AI-related cloud infrastructure, applications, and marketing services reached 10 billion yuan, marking the first time Baidu disclosed detailed figures for its AI segment. Chief Financial Officer He Haijian described the AI business as providing a 'solid foundation for sustainable long-term growth,' emphasizing its growing importance to Baidu’s overall strategy. The disclosure is expected to give investors a clearer view of how Baidu’s investments in AI are driving its future growth, signaling a strategic shift toward technology-driven revenue streams amid a challenging advertising environment.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has advanced its undergraduate admission test for the 2025–26 academic session by one day. Originally scheduled for January 23, the exam will now take place on January 22, according to a decision made by the university’s admission steering committee on November 18. The university’s public relations office stated that the change was made due to unavoidable circumstances. All other aspects of the examination, including test centers and candidate eligibility, remain unchanged. For the first time, the test will be conducted simultaneously at RUET and BUET using a unified multiple-choice question (MCQ) format. Around 19,000 candidates are expected to compete for approximately 1,200 available seats at RUET.

The interim government had made a policy decision to recruit music teachers in primary schools, but the plan has been postponed to allow for a broader recruitment initiative, according to Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar, Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. Speaking at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he emphasized that music education should not be viewed narrowly and expressed hope that the next government would revisit the issue. He also announced the launch of a new Diploma in Primary Education (DPEd) program, a two-semester, ten-month course open to eligible applicants. Addressing recent teacher protests, Dr. Poddar clarified that a teacher’s death during the demonstrations was due to chronic illness, not a sound grenade, and assured government support for the family. He added that nine teachers’ associations had reached an understanding with the ministry, while four unregistered groups misled teachers into unnecessary protests.

The Bangladesh government has decided in principle to establish a new public university named 'Dhaka Central University' by merging seven government colleges currently affiliated with the University of Dhaka. According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, the initiative aims to enhance education quality, ensure timely examinations, faster result publication, and improve administrative efficiency. An interim administration has been approved to manage admissions, registration, and teaching for the 2024–25 academic year, with classes set to begin on November 23. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted the Dhaka Central University Ordinance 2025, which was published online to gather over 5,000 public opinions. The draft is now being reviewed and refined. The ministry emphasized that academic activities will continue uninterrupted during the transition and urged all stakeholders to avoid spreading misinformation. Officials view the move as a major step toward improving the country’s higher education system.

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has released new attendance instructions for candidates appearing in the 47th BCS written examination. According to a notice published on November 13 on the PSC website, candidates must enter the examination hall at least 15 minutes before the test begins to locate their assigned seats. The PSC stated that seating arrangements have been prepared randomly based on even and odd registration numbers to prevent unwanted situations. This randomization process may take extra time for candidates to identify their seats and rooms. Therefore, candidates are required to be present in the hall before the scheduled time. The notice also clarified that no candidate will be allowed to enter the examination hall after 9:45 a.m., as mentioned in the admit card and other official exam guidelines. The new instructions aim to ensure smooth and orderly conduct of the written examination.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has issued a notice requesting educational institutions to submit information on vacant teaching positions for the upcoming special recruitment recommendation. According to the announcement released on Tuesday, November 18, institutions must submit their vacancy data online between November 19 and 28. Only vacancies that existed up to September 30 of the current year will be accepted. The initiative covers MPO-listed private schools, colleges, madrasas, technical, and business management institutions. After submitting the online vacancy demand, institutions are required to pay the associated fee within three days. The collected data will be used for NTRCA’s next round of entry-level teacher recruitment recommendations.

A fish pond in Changsha, Hunan province, China, has gained viral attention after its owners revealed they feed their fish 5,000 kilograms of chilli peppers daily. The pond, co-managed by fish farmer Jiang Sheng and his former classmate Kuang Ke, spans about 10 acres and houses over 2,000 fish. The farmers claim that the capsaicin in the chillies stimulates digestion and nutrient absorption, accelerating fish growth and improving their flavor and appearance. They use common varieties such as cone and millet peppers, asserting that the fish now prefer chillies over grass. The practice reflects the region’s cultural affinity for spicy food and has sparked curiosity online about its effects on aquaculture and food quality. While the owners insist the method is safe and beneficial, experts have yet to confirm any scientific basis for the claims.