::: Star Campus :::

News Room

JU English department re-union

Emran Hossain

On the morning of September 22, teachers and former and present students of the English Department at Jahangirnagar University (JU) greeted each other in reminiscent tones, and shared experiences in the first-ever reunion of the department.
Inaugurated by VC Prof Khandaker Mustahidur Rahman, the daylong reunion titled "eng.lit.meet@ju'06 news", organized by the department, began at 11:30am with current students standing at the main entrance of the new Arts faculty building to welcome the former students. The department also launched a website www.juenglish. com during the inauguration.
The splendid morning passed by amid exchanging wishes and listening to the songs rendered by the students of 34th and 35th batches of the department. Students held an event titled "Talent Showcase" where old photographs and postcolonial poster presentations were on display. Recalling the memory of old days, teachers and students shared their views and experiences in the reminiscence session. As space crisis forced English department to be shifted to the new Arts faculty building, the attendants made a visit to the old arts faculty building, where the former attended classes. Selling dry food, card albums and photographs of bygone days, the M.A students of the media and literature course gave a stall named "a e i o u".
Puthhi Pathh (recitation from folk rhyme) by students of different batches was the most attractive and interesting part of the cultural event presented by the department's students in the afternoon. A reception was also accorded to the basketball team of the department named JAWS, for their third successive feat at the finals of the inter-department Basket Ball Tournament.
With the historic truth of renewed hope and inspiration, the department also published a souvenir titled "Excalibur", edited, designed and illustrated by the students of the department.
Acted by the students, a drama titled "Haw Jaw Baw Raw Law", an audacious version of Sukumar Ray's nonsense story, was staged in English at the proposed Zahir Raihan auditorium at 7:00pm where the facetious characters of the play seemed to be making fun with the audience. Scripted by Shamsad Mortuza, based on a translation by Sampurna Chatterjee, the play is both a fable and fun. The play declares the balanced and strong presence of nonsense genre in Bangla literature. Multimedia animation, by Ahsan Uddin Ahmad Muller, mysterious lightning, minimalist stage, mischievous costume and lilting music made the play a success.
Though there was lack of fluency in throwing dialogue on stage, it could be overlooked as most of the artists were amateurs. Shafkat Nabil Ahmed was the production manager of the play, while Prachyanat, Dhaka, directed the drama.
The decoration of the daylong event was surprising and worth hearty appreciation. Touch of proper care and emotion was evident in the decorative style. Literature and history also found its way through the decoration where different civilizations, cultures, important events and many others were painted or sculptured or made out of paper at the faculty building. Of them the "Trojan Horse", six and half feet tall, was surprising the guests standing at the entrance of the faculty in the morning. Faridul Islam Heera, a popular artist on the campus, and Kanchon showed their distinctive ideas in decoration and earned huge recognition as usual.

Emran Hossain,
JU Correspondent /The Daily Star

Freshers Day in Jahanara Latif Mohila Degree College

Acultural function was held marking the Fresher Reception programme of Jahanara Latif Mohila Degree College at its campus in Melandah Upazila of Jamalpur district recently. The student artists of the college performed at the function to entertain the guests.
The cultural performances of the students were praised by the audience. Earlier a discussion was held with Alahaj Abdul Latif, president of the college governing body in the chair while UNO of Melandah MM Tariqul Islam was the chief guest. The discussion was also addressed among others by SM Ansar Ali and Md. Khairul Islam, Principal and Vice-principal of the college, Masum Alam Khan, principal of Melandah Govt. College, Md. Kismat Pasha, chairman of Nangla union parishad, Shaiful Alam Swapon and Md. Abdul Aziz, professors of the college.
The chief guest told the freshers that it was a memorable day for any students and they should do their due duties properly to be worthy citizens of the country.He also praised the students for their good results this year. Founder and President of the college governing body Alhaj Abdul Latif told the freshers that if the performances of the students are geared up, the students as well as their families would be glorified in the society.

Aminul Islam, Mymensingh Correspondent, The Daily Star

Special Course on mass communication held in RU

The Department of Mass Communication felt it an urge to arrange a long term course for the working journalists as well as students of other disciplines who choose reporting as a profession.
DANIDA, one of the main development partners of the country came forward to provide support to the department to run a ten month long diploma course.
Accordingly, the department with the approval of RU syndicate and Academic Council has undertaken a project to run the diploma course. In 2005, it started the course with 41 students of which 40 percent were working journalists of printing and electronic media.
The main objectives of the diploma course are to enhance communication of media with the people for the cause of democracy, sovereignty, peace and harmony, good governance, development, fundamental rights,human rights, law and order of the country. The Department titled the course as 'post graduate diploma in civic journalism.' The department ran classes of the first batch successfully and final exams were over a few days ago. It has already created eagerness among the learners.
The course has been designed in a way that briefly covers all basic things within journalism. Related subjects like, culture, history, economics, sociology, environmental science, political science and information technology are also included in it.

Rafique Sarker, Rangpur Correspondent, The Daily Star

Orientation at Stamford

Stamford University held the orientation programme of the Microbiology department on September 4. The event was held at the Siddeswari campus. It was a daylong colourful event devided in two sessions, a seminar on Microbiology, orientation ceremony and a cultural programme.
The seminar titled 'Micro Biology and Immunological aspect related to vaccine development' featured discussions on Micro Biology Prof. Dr. Ferdousi Kadri senior scientist of ICDDRB was the main speaker. Prof.Dr. Mujibur Rahman chairman of the Micro Biology department presided over propgramme.
The seminar was followed by the orientation ceremony. After the orientation ceremony the cultural event started featuring performances by the students of the department.

Seminar on Bangla Poetry at Govt. Women's College, Jamalpur

Jamalpur Govt. Zaheda Safir Women's College arranged a seminar on 'New Trend of Bangla Poetry - Shamsur Rahman, Hasan Hafizur Rahman and Al Mahmood' in its auditorium on 20th September with Professor Md. Abdur Razzak (Shantanu Kaisar), the principal of the college in the chair. Mohammad Haider of Bangla Department presented the key-note paper while Ahmed Aziz, Ali Zahir, Drubagoti Ghosh, Prof. Pradeep Kanti Majumdar and Principal of Melandaha Govt. College Prof. Masum Alam took part in the discussion.
Prof Azizul Hoque, convener of the seminar committee and other speakers discussed how the three poets are different from their predecessors and contemporaries. Muzahid Billa Faruki, Secretary of the staff council gave a presentation in the seminar.
In his presidential address professor Md. Abdur Razzak stressed the need of going deep into the poetic styles and their gradual development to feel the pulse of the land and her people.
A musical programme followed the seminar which was participated by Sumitra Rani Shaha, Mousimi Ghosh and Hasnat Talukdar.

Sabiha Sultana
Lecturer, Mathematics Department,
Govt. Zaheda Safir Mohila College,
Jamalpur.

DU wins 6th inter university championship

Dhaka University (DU) won the 6th inter university championship by beating Rajshahi Medical Colledge at the finals. The event was organised by DUDS. A total of 22 universities took part in the three daylong championship. The event was sponsored by Citi Bank.Leading institutions including DU, KUET, UIU, Bangladesh Agriculture University, Asian University, South East university, Independent university and others took part.
The event mainly featured debates on corruption and related issues.