Students of Jagannath University’s 2024–25 academic session (20th batch) staged a protest on Sunday, January 25, in front of the university’s administrative building, alleging discrimination in the first installment list of the special scholarship program. They claimed their batch was excluded while earlier batches were included and demanded immediate inclusion in the scholarship list. Protesters chanted slogans asserting their right to the scholarship and warned of tougher programs if their demands were not met.

The university administration had published the special scholarship list on January 23, naming 10,319 students. Among them, 8,330 were from the 2019–20 to 2023–24 sessions in the first list, and 1,989 more were added in a second list. Expelled students, quota students, and those with low CGPA were excluded. JnUCSU General Secretary and Islami Chhatra Shibir’s JnU unit secretary Abdul Alim Arif supported the protesters, calling their demand logical. The JnU unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal also expressed solidarity and urged the administration to accept the students’ demands promptly.

The protesting students warned that failure to revise the list would lead to intensified demonstrations.

East West University organized a colorful orientation program for new students of the Spring 2026 semester on January 22, 2026, at the Manzur Elahi Auditorium in Aftabnagar, Dhaka. The event aimed to familiarize newcomers with the university’s code of conduct, rules, and available facilities. Professor Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, attended as the chief guest, while Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shams Rahman presided over the ceremony.

Speakers highlighted the university’s mission and values, emphasizing the importance of developing skilled, ethical, and responsible leadership among students. They urged the new students to focus on both academic excellence and personal development to become capable human resources and contribute positively to national progress. The event was also attended by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Ashik Mosaddik and Treasurer Air Commodore (Retd.) Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury.

To make the event more engaging, the Student Welfare Department organized a ‘Club Fair’ featuring 23 student-run clubs. Each club showcased its activities and initiatives to encourage new students to participate in co-curricular and creative endeavors alongside their studies.

Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar has called for transforming educational institutions into centers of democratic and inclusive practice through the creativity, ideas, and active participation of young people. He made the remarks on Saturday at a discussion marking International Education Day 2026, held at the International Mother Language Institute auditorium and organized by the Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO.

Dr. Abrar emphasized that education should not be confined to textbook learning but should foster citizenship, values, and social responsibility. He urged that youth participation must be genuine and effective rather than symbolic, stressing that sustainable change is impossible without their engagement. Referring to the upcoming election and the vision of a new Bangladesh, he said young people must be actively involved in institutional reform and represented in national structures, including parliament.

He further highlighted the need for supportive environments in educational institutions to nurture students’ talents and civic awareness through clubs and cultural activities. He also underscored inclusive representation for ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups through coordinated policy and continuous dialogue.

Rail communication between Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj was suspended after an oil-carrying train derailed near Amnura Railway Station in Chapainawabganj on Saturday around 12:45 p.m. According to station master Hasibul, the train was traveling from Khulna to the Amnura power plant with 30 oil wagons, two of which went off the tracks. As a result, the scheduled local commuter train from Amnura to Rajshahi could not depart on time.

Authorities were informed immediately after the incident, but by 4:30 p.m., the derailed wagons had not yet been recovered. The cause of the derailment remains unknown, and train movement between Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj remains halted pending clearance of the line.

The disruption has affected regular passenger and freight services on the route, and restoration efforts are ongoing as railway officials work to remove the derailed wagons and resume normal operations.

Bangladesh is observing the International Day of Education 2026 today, Saturday, January 24. The United Nations General Assembly declared January 24 as the International Day of Education on December 3, 2018, recognizing education as the foundation of peace and development. Since then, the Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) and UNESCO Dhaka have jointly celebrated the day each year. This year’s global theme is “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education.”

To mark the occasion, BNCU has organized a discussion and cultural program at 11 a.m. at the International Mother Language Institute auditorium in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Education Adviser and BNCU Chairman Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar will attend as chief guest, with Rehana Parveen, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, as special guest, and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Susan Vize as guest of honor. The event will be chaired by BNCU Deputy Secretary General Sabvina Monir Chithi.

Ahead of the celebration, a youth dialogue was held on January 20 at the same institute, where students from schools, colleges, madrasas, and universities shared their experiences and ideas on education.

After nearly 60 years of neglect, the Central Jame Mosque of Dhaka University has been renovated under the initiative of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Daksu). The renovation was completed in response to long-standing student demands, and an inaugural prayer ceremony was held on Friday, January 23, following the completion of the work. The event was attended by advisers from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Railways, along with the university’s vice-chancellor and proctor.

According to university sources, no major renovation had taken place in the mosque’s 65-year history. The Daksu-led project included installation of a 110-ton air-conditioning system, improved lighting, two new ablution areas, new carpets, wall painting, expanded prayer space for female students, and a special access path for students with disabilities. The work was coordinated by elected Daksu members Anas Ibn Munir and Mazharul Islam, while donors requested anonymity.

Daksu Vice President Sadiq Kayem stated that the mosque is an integral part of the university’s cultural and religious heritage, and the renovation aims to provide a better environment for students’ spiritual activities.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Manzur Murshed Bhuiyan from the Department of Finance has been appointed as a new member of the Syndicate, the highest policy-making body of Jagannath University (JnU). The appointment, effective from January 22, 2026, will remain valid for two years. The university’s acting registrar, Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin, confirmed the nomination on Friday through an official notice.

According to the notice, the appointment was made by the Vice-Chancellor under sections 17(1)(j) and (2) of the Jagannath University Act, 2005, following the 31st decision of the 76th meeting of the Academic Council. The Syndicate serves as the top administrative and academic decision-making council of the university.

The acting registrar requested Professor Bhuiyan to actively assist in the university’s administrative and academic operations. Professor Bhuiyan currently serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies at Jagannath University.

National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.S.M. Amanullah stated that around one million students graduate annually from the university, with about 40 percent facing frustration in the job market due to an outdated syllabus. He made the remarks on Thursday at a meeting with principals from colleges in Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban districts, held at Rangamati Government College.

He said that over the past five decades since independence, Bangladesh has failed to build effective links between education, research, and industry, leaving the country behind in the global technological race. To make higher education more employment-oriented, the university has begun curriculum reforms, making information technology and English compulsory subjects in undergraduate honors programs. The institution has also initiated collaborations with local and international universities and industries, supported by UNICEF and other organizations.

The Vice-Chancellor listened to the principals’ feedback and promised to incorporate their suggestions into the university’s plans. He emphasized that despite a large population, Bangladesh faces a shortage of skilled manpower due to insufficient investment in education compared to infrastructure development.

United Commercial Bank PLC (UCB) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Scholastica to provide special educational opportunities for the children of UCB employees. The signing ceremony took place on Thursday at 11 a.m. at UCB’s head office, where Syed Hasnain Mamun, Chief Human Resources Officer of UCB, and Madiha Murshed, Managing Director of Scholastica, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

Senior officials from both institutions attended the event, including UCB’s Additional Managing Director Adnan Masud, Chief Communication Officer Zeeshan Kingshuk Haque, and Scholastica’s Director of Business Development and Strategic Planning Amer Ahmed. The partnership was described by both sides as a timely and effective step toward advancing education and human resource development.

Officials from UCB and Scholastica expressed optimism that the collaboration would strengthen mutual cooperation in the future, supporting broader educational and developmental goals.

An ordinance to establish 'Dhaka Central University' by merging seven government colleges in the capital has been approved by the advisory council. The decision was communicated on Thursday afternoon by Education Adviser Professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, who personally informed students over the phone. Around 2 p.m., students gathered in front of Dhaka College erupted in celebration upon hearing the news, chanting slogans in support of the new university.

The move follows years of unrest since the seven colleges were affiliated with Dhaka University in 2017 without prior preparation, leading to prolonged academic and administrative challenges. The colleges involved are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Mohila College, Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul College, Government Bangla College, and Titumir College. Students from these institutions had long been demanding an independent, autonomous university.

With the advisory council’s approval, the government’s decision marks the end of a long-standing student movement and paves the way for the creation of a unified public university in Dhaka.

Jagannath University authorities have imposed a ban on the use of sound boxes, microphones, and other activities that disrupt academic and research work on campus. The decision was announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026, through a notice signed by the university registrar, Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin. According to the notice, no sound systems, sports, or similar activities will be allowed on campus between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. as they may interfere with examinations, research, and the overall academic environment.

The notice further stated that any such activities outside the specified hours must receive prior approval from the university authorities. All department heads and relevant officials have been instructed to take necessary measures to ensure proper implementation of the directive.

The university administration emphasized that the restrictions aim to maintain a conducive academic atmosphere and prevent disturbances during regular educational operations.

Jagannath University has announced that all undergraduate and postgraduate classes will be conducted online from February 26 to March 9 in observance of the holy month of Ramadan. The decision was confirmed on January 22 by the university’s acting registrar, Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin, following an official notice issued under his signature.

According to the notice, the decision was made based on the resolution of the university’s 76th Academic Council meeting held on January 15. The university administration stated that the move aims to accommodate students’ convenience and align with the Ramadan schedule.

During this period, all regular classes across undergraduate and postgraduate programs will continue online as per the council’s directive.

Allegations have surfaced that a syndicate led by an office assistant named Ilias has been leaking final exam questions for the Political Science department across seven government colleges affiliated with Dhaka University. Despite the gravity of the accusations and the emergence of credible evidence, the university administration has not yet formed an investigation committee even after 24 hours, prompting anger and frustration among students.

According to multiple reliable sources, the group has been secretly selling leaked questions from honors to master’s level exams for several years, distributing them to students three to four days before exams in exchange for money. Students expressed outrage, saying the scandal has severely damaged their institutions’ reputation and demanded immediate identification and punishment of those involved. They also called for an inquiry into whether anyone from Dhaka University itself is connected.

Interim administrator Professor A.K.M. Ilias confirmed that he had heard about the leak but said the probe committee would be formed the next day. Dhaka University’s controller of examinations, Himadri Shekhar Chakraborty, stated that necessary actions would follow upon receiving a written complaint.

Chittagong University has established the country’s first free legal aid cell to provide students with complimentary legal advice and assistance. The initiative, launched on Tuesday evening at the vice chancellor’s conference room, was organized by the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU). The inauguration ceremony was attended by the university’s Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin as chief guest, along with Registrar (Acting) Professor Dr. Mohammad Saiful Islam, ChakSU leaders, and several lawyers from the Supreme Court and Chittagong Judge Court.

The legal aid cell includes senior lawyers such as Barrister Belayet Hossain, Deputy Attorney General Barrister Osman Chowdhury, and Assistant Attorney General Advocate Tarikul Islam, among others. A total of 20 lawyers from the Supreme Court and Chittagong Judge Court will be associated with the cell. Professor Kamal Uddin stated that the initiative will set a national example by ensuring free legal services for students and empowering them to stand against injustice and discrimination. ChakSU leaders emphasized that the project fulfills a key election pledge and reflects their commitment to sustainable student welfare.

The initiative is expected to make legal support more accessible to students and inspire similar programs at other universities.

The Bangladesh government has approved a 70-day holiday schedule for all government Alia madrasas and private Ebtedayee, Dakhil, Alim, Fazil, and Kamil madrasas for the 2026 academic year. The decision was announced on January 20, 2026, through a circular signed by Deputy Secretary Md. Rahat Manna of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division. The holidays include religious and national observances such as Ramadan, Shaheed Dibas, International Mother Language Day, Shab-e-Qadr, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Independence Day, covering nearly one month of closure. Fridays and Saturdays are excluded from the holiday count.

The circular details specific dates for holidays throughout the year, including Shab-e-Miraj on January 17, Shab-e-Barat on February 4–5, and a long break from February 15 to March 26. Additional holidays include Eid-ul-Azha and summer vacation from May 24 to June 11, Durga Puja from October 20 to 22, and winter vacation from December 13 to 24. Three reserve days are allotted for institution heads. Haor region madrasas may adjust up to ten extra days during the Boro harvest season.

The academic calendar also sets examination dates, with half-yearly exams from June 25 to July 15, Dakhil selection exams from October 11 to November 10, and annual and Alim selection exams from November 19 to December 10.