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.

Dhaka University has published the admission test results for the Arts, Law and Social Science Unit of the 2025–26 academic year. The announcement was made on Tuesday after 4:30 p.m. through a notice on the university’s admission website. This year, 107,712 students applied for 2,934 available seats, and 103,611 took part in the exam. A total of 7,553 students passed, including 4,109 from the humanities stream, 2,981 from science, and 463 from business studies. The overall pass rate stood at 7.29 percent, while results of five candidates were canceled.

Md. Shahriar Shimul topped the humanities stream, Rifat Al Rafi led the science stream, and Md. Abir Ahmed Rohan ranked first in business studies. Successful candidates can fill out detailed and subject preference forms from January 27 to February 5. Quota applicants may collect and submit their forms between February 1 and 5 at the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Students seeking re-evaluation can apply with a fee from January 21 to 27. Results are available at admission.eis.du.ac.bd or via SMS through Grameenphone, Banglalink, or Teletalk numbers.

The Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has released the final schedule for the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations. According to the announcement published on January 20, the nationwide exams will begin on April 21 and continue until May 20. The schedule was made available through the board’s website and various media outlets. Alongside the schedule, the board issued 14 mandatory instructions for all examinees.

The directives include arriving at the exam hall 30 minutes before the start, following the time mentioned on the question paper, and completing multiple-choice and creative sections consecutively without breaks. Students must collect admit cards at least seven days before the exam and correctly fill in their OMR forms without folding them. The use of board-approved calculators is allowed, but mobile phones are prohibited except for the center secretary. Practical exams will be held at respective centers, and re-scrutiny applications must be submitted online within seven days of result publication.

The board emphasized that students must pass separately in theoretical, multiple-choice, and practical parts, and institutions are responsible for timely distribution of admit cards and submission of continuous assessment marks.

The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) has addressed widespread confusion on social media regarding the publication of results for the government primary school assistant teacher recruitment written examination. Officials stated that rumors about result cancellation or indefinite delay are baseless. A.K. Shamsul Ahsan, Director of the Policy and Operation Division, said on Monday night that no directive had been received from the Election Commission or the government, but efforts were underway to release the results as soon as possible.

The written examination was held on January 9 across 61 districts for 14,385 vacant posts, with over 1.08 million candidates participating. Prior to the exam, allegations of question leaks circulated online, and some individuals shared purported leaked questions on Facebook. A group known as the “device party” allegedly offered cheating assistance using electronic devices in exchange for money.

Authorities detained 207 candidates for using such devices during the exam, including 53 in Gaibandha, 18 in Naogaon, 18 in Dinajpur, 16 in Kurigram, and two in Rangpur. The DPE confirmed that results will be published once evaluation is complete.

The National Moon Sighting Committee of Bangladesh announced on Monday that the moon for the holy month of Shaban, 1447 Hijri, was not sighted anywhere in the country. As a result, the month of Rajab will complete 30 days on Tuesday, and the counting of Shaban will begin on Wednesday. Accordingly, the holy night of Shab-e-Barat will be observed across the country on the night of February 3.

The decision was made at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at the Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram office, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Md. Kamal Uddin. The Islamic Foundation stated in a press release that the committee reached its decision after reviewing information from district administrations, the Islamic Foundation’s offices, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and the Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO).

Senior officials from various government and religious institutions attended the meeting, including representatives from the Cabinet Division, Bangladesh Television, and Islamic educational institutions.

The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) is in the final stages of preparing the results for the 46th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. According to PSC Chairman Professor Mobasher Monem, the commission aims to publish the final recommendations by the last week of January 2026, provided all processes proceed smoothly. The final list will include candidates who passed the oral examination, marking the conclusion of a three-phase selection process.

The 46th BCS began with 337,986 applicants, of whom 254,561 appeared in the preliminary test held across divisional cities. Following re-evaluation, 21,397 candidates qualified for the written examination. The written results, published on November 27, 2025, led to 4,050 candidates being selected for the oral test after technical corrections. The PSC chairman emphasized efforts to reduce delays in the recruitment process and noted that the written results were delivered in record time.

If the schedule holds, several thousand qualified candidates are expected to begin their government service careers soon after the final results are announced.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has reported that the printing and distribution of free textbooks for the current academic year are nearly complete across all levels. According to the latest data, overall progress for secondary (grades 6–9) and madrasa ibtedayi levels has reached 98.76 percent, with an average nationwide delivery rate exceeding 95.47 percent. The ibtedayi level has achieved 100 percent printing and delivery, while secondary-level printing stands at 99 percent as of January 18. NCTB expects all remaining printing and binding work to finish within the next few days, aiming for full completion by January 22.

The NCTB’s latest report on the 2026 academic year shows that 311.09 million ibtedayi textbooks have been printed and bound through 35 presses, meeting the full target. At the secondary level, 102 presses have completed 98.62 percent of printing, with 173.49 million books already delivered out of a target of 183.20 million. NCTB officials said that if electricity and transport systems remain stable, the remaining books will be printed and distributed on schedule.

Officials added that some delays occurred due to re-tendering processes, but efforts are being intensified to ensure students receive their textbooks as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Education has finalized the ordinance for establishing Dhaka Central University and sent the draft to the Cabinet Division for approval. Officials confirmed that the ordinance is expected to be placed before the advisory council meeting on Thursday for final approval. The ministry’s public relations officer, Khalid Mahmud, stated that all procedural steps have been completed, including consultations with relevant ministries, public feedback collection, and expert opinions.

The ministry emphasized that the ordinance reflects stakeholders’ expectations and aims to ensure quality education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It urged all parties to avoid activities that could cause public suffering or disrupt normal life, warning that instability could undermine the progress achieved. The ministry also assured that the new university will open a new chapter in Bangladesh’s higher education.

The initiative to form Dhaka Central University, comprising seven government colleges in Dhaka, followed student movements last year. After revisions and consultations, the final draft was submitted on January 13. Students have agreed to wait until Thursday for the advisory council’s decision.

At a press conference held on Saturday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, the principal of Mirpur Girls Ideal Laboratory Institute, Jinat Farhana, alleged that dismissed assistant music teacher Bipasha Yasmin engaged in misconduct, disorderly behavior, and misuse of political and bureaucratic influence. The institution claimed that despite her dismissal in May of the previous year, Yasmin continued spreading propaganda, bullying, and conspiracy against the school and its leadership.

According to the written statement presented at the event, Yasmin was allegedly appointed in 2015 in violation of official procedures, using political connections. The school authorities accused her of repeated disobedience, false sexual harassment allegations, and threats against colleagues. They further claimed she used artificial intelligence to create and distribute distorted and defamatory online content targeting teachers and administrators, harming their reputations.

The principal appealed for government intervention to protect the institution from ongoing defamation and disruption. The school stated that multiple investigations had found Yasmin’s complaints baseless, and her actions continued to damage the school’s discipline and educational environment.

Freedom fighter and retired head teacher Tofazzal Hossain passed away at his home in Dolong, Chatmohar, Pabna, on Friday morning. He was 76 years old. He is survived by his wife, one son, two daughters, grandchildren, and many admirers. His son, schoolteacher Forhad Nasim Lavlu, said his father had been under treatment for various age-related illnesses.

According to Assistant Freedom Fighter Commander Ignasius Gomez (Inu Master), the first funeral prayer with state honors was held after Juma prayers at Dolong Madrasa field in the municipal area. The second funeral prayer took place after Maghrib at his village home in Charnabin, Chaikola Union, followed by burial at the local cemetery.

The report highlights the community’s respect for the late freedom fighter, who served as a teacher and contributed to education and the liberation movement in the region.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has not been able to deliver all secondary-level textbooks to students by its earlier deadline of January 15, 2026. Officials said that dense fog and severe cold slowed down printing, preventing completion on time. As of Thursday, about five percent of books were still pending, but NCTB expects 98 percent of students to receive their books by Sunday, when classes begin, and 99 percent by next Tuesday.

NCTB’s textbook member Professor Dr. Riad Chowdhury explained that the board relies on 105 printing presses and does not print books itself. The initial January 15 target was based on information from those presses, but adverse weather reduced printing speed. Education adviser C.R. Abrar had earlier announced that all books would reach students by mid-January, but nearly ten million books remain undelivered.

Officials noted that in the past fifteen years, full textbook delivery at the start of the year has never been achieved. They said that if all books reach schools by January 20, it would mark a new milestone for NCTB.

A joint commitment to establish a stable, inclusive, innovative, and globally accepted higher education system in South Asia was expressed through the adoption of the 'Dhaka Declaration' on higher education. The declaration identifies sustained political commitment, strong institutional leadership, effective regional cooperation, and collective participation of all stakeholders as essential elements for meaningful and sustainable transformation of higher education.

The declaration was adopted on Thursday, the closing day of a four-day conference titled 'Current Status and Future Directions of South Asian Regional Higher Education' held in Dhaka. It was read out by Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, and was unanimously accepted by the participants without objection.

The event was attended by UGC Chairman Professor Dr. SMA Faiz, several UGC members, and representatives from higher education bodies of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Nepal, along with officials from the World Bank and the Higher Education Transformation project.

Students from seven government colleges in Dhaka blocked the Science Lab intersection for a second consecutive day on Thursday, January 15, 2026, demanding the issuance of the proposed Dhaka Central University ordinance. The blockade began around 12:30 p.m., with students chanting slogans calling for immediate government action. Participants said they had been waiting about one and a half years for the ordinance, which they claim is essential to formally establish their institutional identity.

Students expressed frustration that despite repeated government assurances, the ordinance had not yet been issued. They stated that they would withdraw from the streets only after the ordinance was officially announced. The protesters emphasized that they did not wish to cause public suffering but felt compelled to continue their movement until their demand was met.

The previous day, January 14, students had also blocked the Science Lab, Tati Bazar, and Technical intersections, causing severe traffic congestion across the area. The seven colleges involved include Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, Government Bangla College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College.

Students of Khulna University staged a protest on Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, demanding the cancellation of the student representative system and reduction of increased registration fees. The demonstration began at Hadi Chattar and marched through several dormitories before gathering in front of the vice chancellor’s residence. Students held a brief rally, voicing demands to lower registration fees, extend course registration deadlines, and abolish the student representative system.

During the protest, students alleged that the registration fee had been raised without prior discussion and described the increase as unreasonable. They also expressed concern that the introduction of a student representative system could bring politics into the campus, which they said had always been non-political. Protesters warned of tougher actions if their demands were not met within one working day.

Assistant Director of Student Affairs Ehsan Majid Mostafa met the students and said their demands would be conveyed to the administration. However, Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim stated that no registration fee increase had occurred and that misinformation was spreading on social media.