Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan visited two injured students, including Chhatra Dal leader Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, who was hurt on a dormitory staircase during a recent earthquake. Hamim, a former general secretary candidate in the last DUCSU election, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka. The VC also visited another injured student, Tanzir Hossain of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, at the university’s medical center to check on his condition. During his visits, Dr. Khan spoke with the injured students, inquired about their medical care, and wished them a speedy recovery. Additionally, he inspected the site of a gas cylinder explosion at Bijoy Ekattor Hall. The university administration has expressed concern for student safety following these incidents.

The largest Pakistan Education Expo in Dhaka, jointly organized by the Pakistan High Commission and Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), showcased academic opportunities for Bangladeshi students. Over 15 leading Pakistani universities participated as part of the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor initiative, announced earlier by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who also pledged 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students. The event was attended by Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Secretary Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, UGC Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam, university officials, civil society representatives, and students. Speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening educational cooperation between the two nations through student exchange, joint research, and skill development. Pakistan’s High Commissioner Imran Haider described the initiative as a symbol of friendship and mutual trust. Following the Dhaka event, similar expos are scheduled in Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Sylhet later in November to reach more students across Bangladesh.

Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, a distinguished academic from the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB). The appointment, effective immediately, was confirmed through an official notification issued on Sunday, November 23, by the Ministry of Education under the directive of the President and Chancellor. Dr. Rahman will serve a four-year term under the Private University Act 2010. With over 35 years of academic experience, he has previously served as Chairman of the Marketing Department, as well as a member of the Syndicate and Senate at Dhaka University. He also held positions as Dean at Daffodil International University and taught as adjunct faculty at several leading private universities. An accomplished researcher, Dr. Rahman has published over 35 papers and supervised multiple MPhil and PhD candidates. He currently chairs the North South Society and serves as an independent director and strategic advisor in various organizations.

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has reaffirmed that the written examinations for the 47th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) will commence on November 27, 2024, as previously announced. The decision follows weeks of protests by job seekers demanding a postponement, citing insufficient preparation time. Demonstrations included railway blockades in Rajshahi and Mymensingh, hunger strike threats, and social media campaigns. PSC stated that the exam schedule was officially declared on June 3, giving candidates ample time since the preliminary results were published on September 19, shortlisting 10,644 candidates. The commission emphasized that BCS preparation requires long-term study and discipline, rejecting claims of inadequate time. It also noted that delaying exams would disrupt its planned roadmap for clearing examination backlogs. The written tests will be held from November 27 to December 18 across eight divisional cities, with some subject-specific exams taking place only in Dhaka. PSC urged all candidates to attend as per the announced schedule.

In Chattogram’s Lohagara upazila, 41 out of 103 government primary schools currently lack head teachers, forcing assistant teachers to take on dual roles as acting heads. According to the local Primary Education Office, 58 assistant teacher positions also remain vacant, while several schools face legal complications delaying appointments. Acting head teachers report administrative delays and disruptions in classroom teaching, affecting student attendance, discipline, and academic performance. Education officials and teacher associations attribute the crisis to a decade-long stagnation in promotions and recruitment. They warn that the shortage undermines the foundation of primary education and demotivates senior teachers. Authorities have informed higher officials and expect resolution soon, though the issue reflects a nationwide problem. Parents and educators urge immediate recruitment to restore proper academic and administrative functioning in the affected schools.

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) in Dhaka has announced the closure of the university until December 6 following safety concerns after a recent earthquake. The decision was made during an emergency meeting on November 23, where the administration instructed all students to vacate their residential halls by 5 p.m. on Monday. The move comes after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake on November 21 caused visible cracks in three of the university’s seven dormitories, sparking panic among students. In response, the university authorities inspected the affected buildings and formed a committee to assess their structural integrity. Professor Dr. Md. Ashabul Haque, Director of Student Counseling and Guidance, confirmed the decision, emphasizing that the temporary closure aims to ensure student safety while necessary inspections and repairs are carried out.

Dhaka Medical College has announced the suspension of all academic activities until November 29 following a recent earthquake. The decision was made at an emergency academic council meeting held on Sunday, November 23, and approved by the university syndicate. Principal Professor Dr. Md. Kamrul Alam stated that the professional MBBS examinations under Dhaka University have also been postponed until the same date. The suspension aims to reduce students’ mental stress and allow them time to reunite with their families after the disaster. According to the official notice, regular academic activities will resume on November 30. Authorities emphasized that the temporary closure is a precautionary measure to ensure student safety and well-being in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Jagannath University in Dhaka has suspended all classes and examinations for one week following widespread concerns over recent earthquake tremors. The decision was made during an emergency meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim on Sunday, November 23. Female students residing in university dormitories have been instructed to vacate their halls by 10 a.m. on Monday. To ensure safety, a committee led by the Dean of the Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, with engineers from BUET, will inspect the structural integrity of university buildings and submit a report by December 3. The closure will remain in effect until December 4. The university administration has arranged transportation to help students return safely to their hometowns, with buses scheduled to depart for divisional cities starting Monday morning.

Sir Salimullah Medical College in Old Dhaka has been temporarily closed until November 30 following safety concerns arising from a recent earthquake. The college principal, Dr. Mazharul Islam Shaheen, announced the decision on Sunday, emphasizing that the safety of students is the top priority. All academic activities and examinations have been suspended, and students have been instructed to vacate the dormitories. Despite the directive, some students reportedly remain in the halls. Authorities stated that normal academic operations will resume once the situation stabilizes. The closure reflects broader safety precautions being taken across the country in response to the earthquake’s aftermath, as institutions assess structural safety and ensure the well-being of students and staff.

Following an emergency closure declared by Dhaka University due to post-earthquake safety concerns, students have started vacating residential halls. From Sunday morning, students were seen leaving with their belongings from various halls, including Rokeya, Mohsin, and Shahidullah halls. Many students welcomed the university administration’s decision, citing visible cracks in several buildings and the need for urgent repairs. Some residents of Rokeya Hall said that the closure period should be used to carry out necessary renovations to ensure safer accommodation. Meanwhile, a group of residential students staged an overnight sit-in in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, demanding visible solutions for safe housing and raising three specific demands. The university administration earlier announced that all halls must be vacated by 5 p.m. Sunday, with the closure to remain effective until December 6.

Viquarunnisa Noon School and College in Dhaka has postponed all scheduled examinations for grades 1 through 9, as well as a special quiz competition for grade 11 students, originally set for Sunday, November 23. The announcement was made early Sunday morning by Acting Principal Majeda Begum through an official notice citing unavoidable circumstances. Regular classes for grades 11 and 12 will continue as usual. The decision follows a series of mild earthquakes that struck Dhaka and surrounding areas on Saturday, with magnitudes ranging from 3.3 to 4.3 on the Richter scale. The tremors, originating from Badda and Narsingdi, came after a stronger quake on Friday that caused significant damage and at least 10 deaths nationwide. The recent seismic activity has raised public concern and prompted precautionary measures across educational institutions in the capital.

Train operations on Dhaka Metro Rail were briefly disrupted on Saturday night after a drone fell onto the tracks between Uttara Center and Uttara South stations. According to a statement from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) posted on its official Facebook page, the incident caused a temporary suspension of metro service. The drone was quickly removed, and train movement resumed shortly afterward. Authorities expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers and assured that normal operations had been restored. The cause of the drone’s fall and its ownership remain unclear, and no injuries or damage were reported. The incident has raised concerns about airspace safety around metro infrastructure in the capital.

Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed Chinese companies operating in the country to install artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled monitoring cameras in their manufacturing facilities. The move aims to address widespread tax evasion, particularly in the ceramic tile sector, where underreporting of production has allegedly caused an annual revenue loss of around 30 billion rupees. FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial issued the directive during a Senate Standing Committee on Finance meeting, warning that companies refusing to comply would face shutdowns. Chinese firms have expressed concerns that surveillance could compromise business confidentiality, but authorities have reduced the required number of cameras per factory from 16 to 5 to accommodate investors. The government plans to expand the AI monitoring system to 18 high-risk sectors to ensure transparency and improve tax compliance across industries.

Dhaka University has announced a temporary closure until December 6, 2025, following safety concerns arising from a recent earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. The decision was made during an emergency virtual meeting of the university syndicate chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan. Based on expert opinions from BUET and the university’s engineering and planning departments, authorities concluded that residential halls require thorough inspection and possible renovation to ensure student safety. Consequently, all academic classes and examinations have been suspended, and students have been instructed to vacate residential halls by 5 p.m. on Sunday. The university administration emphasized that the measure is precautionary and aims to safeguard students’ physical and mental well-being. However, all administrative offices will remain open and continue normal operations during this period.

Dhaka University (DU) has announced the suspension of all internal classes and examinations scheduled for Sunday, November 23, following a series of earthquakes that injured several students and caused widespread panic across the campus. The decision was confirmed in an emergency notice issued by the Controller of Examinations’ office on Saturday, signed by Acting Controller Dr. Himadri Shekhar Chakravarti. The university administration stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and prioritizing student safety. On Saturday evening, another tremor struck Dhaka, injuring three students at Shamsunnahar Hall. A day earlier, a separate earthquake had caused cracks in several DU halls and buildings, injuring 22 students. The incidents have left the campus community anxious, prompting the administration to take precautionary measures. New schedules for the postponed exams will be announced later.