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East West University remembers Edward Said
Farhana Zareen Bashar
 Faculty and students from various universities gathered at the East West University auditorium on the 27th of September to pay tribute to the founding figure post colonial theorist and a political activist Edward Said. The event, titled “Our 'Contrapuntal Reading': A Tribute to Said", was by the English Department on the occasion of Said's 4th death anniversary.
The program was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor of East West University, Professor Mohammed Sharif.
Featured speeches were delivered by four distinguished academics. Senior lecturer Hasan-al Zayed, and Zahid Akhter both of East West University spoke of their personal connection to Said's texts. Hasan-al Zayed spoke of his initial unwillingness to accept Said's ideas, which fuelled his further interest for Said. Zahid Akhter explained how the power-knowledge dominance extends itself not only to the Western perception of the East, but also, to the treatment of minority groups by those in power. Guest speaker, Associate Professor Dr Piash Karim of BRAC University also expressed his profound interest in Said and his works. Professor Karim declared that he had fallen in love with this intellectual from the moment he felt the intensity and power of Said's words.
Dr. Fakrul Alam, honorary advisor and professor of the English department, East West University, highlighted Said's anti-colonial perspective. Dr. Alam, who has recently published his book Imperial Entanglements and Literature in English, stressed the fact that literature has become stale and it needs to break away from the grip of imperial shackles. Dr. Alam took everyone on a Saidian journey and illustrated how deeply rooted and powerful the buds of knowledge and experience can be. Edward Said was a man who cared so much for the oppressed that he decided to wage a war with his mighty pen, against the misuse of absolute power.
Mr Harunur Rashid Khan, acting chairperson of the department of English expressed his hopes that this kind of event would inspire everyone to read through Said's life and works with a renewed interest. The programme was followed by the screening of an interview by Edward Said, which was videoed 15 days before his death.
(The writer is Teaching Assistant Department of English EWU)
Education Fair at AUB
Sparkle Event, a concern of Student Employment Project (STEP), is going to organize a two-day long Education Fair titled Foreign Edu Fair-2007 at Asian University of Bangladesh (AUB) Uttara campus on 30th & 31st October. The motto of this fair is to help students avail all relevant information regarding foreign education at their own premises.
About 15 foreign institution representatives will participate in this fair. Besides fair, some seminars will take place at the venue. Students may avail tuition fee waiver, scholarship and credit transfer facilities from foreign institutions. The fair will remain open for all from 10am to 5pm.
Dr. M. Mahboob Ali joins ADUST as a Professor, School of Business
Dr.Muhammad Mahboob Ali joins as a Professor, School of Business of Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology (ADUST) on 9th October,2007. He is also working as a proctor of the ADUST and Chairman of the School of Business.
English courses for Young Learners at the British Council Teaching Centre
British Council Teaching Centre is offering a special courses for young learner students aged 8-14. These are general English courses which help improve students' English for school and their future. The courses are fun and informative and students will find them a useful as well as enjoyable way to spend their free time.
To develop the Young Learner courses BC has drawn on the expertise in the British Council's international network of Young Learner teachers and based course design on a sound understanding of what young learners in Bangladesh need. Classes are specially designed to engage students' attention and involve them actively in improving their English ability. Students follow a language syllabus to ensure structured progress through the 8-week courses. The programmes also use innovative and fun methods involving video, music, drawing, group activities and Information Communication Technology (ICT).
English language programmes for young learners will start from 3 November 2007 with registration between 29 October 1 November 2007. Students have the option of joining the Fuller Road Library and Supported Open Learning Centre (SOLC), both of which are equipped with cutting-edge software and materials to improve all round English language skills.
If you wish to change any of the information or need more details, please contact:
Prof. Dr. Golam Rahman visits Satkhira Debating Club
 The founder VC of Khulna University and former Dean (Architecture and Planning) of BUET Professor Dr. Golam Rahman visited Satkhira Debating Club on September 3, 2007. During his visit Professor Rahman exchanged his views with the youthful debaters of Satkhira. He said, “Debaters are the most rational community in the society and rationality is the most important characteristics of a civilized human society. Without quality education, development is impossible. We need an enlightened society to fight against corruption and to make our beloved Bangladesh respectable in the world. I'm very happy to know that Satkhira Debating Club is making the local students enlightened through debating.”
Satkhira Debating Club (SDC) president Saraban Tahira, GS Imran Hossain, Head of English Debate Wasifa Tasnim Shamma, Sabrina Khan Maytre, and other debaters welcomed him at SDC office.
Multimedia University organaised donation drive
Mohammad Arif
Recently, Bangladeshi students of Multimedia University (MMU), organaised a 'Donation Drive' for the flood affected people in Bangladesh. And we were happy to get huge response from students and staff of the university. In total, we have received MYR 6732 ( Approx. BDT 1,30,000). We've sent this money to the Chief Advisor's Welfare and Relief Fund through the High Commission of Bangladesh in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 8, 2007.
(On behalf of Bangladeshi students in Multimedia University, Malacca. Malaysia)
JOBS-ICT @ ULAB's Orientation Program
Md. Nabil
JOBS-ICT, a career service organization held two day long orientation program for the freshers in fall semester on the 5th and the 6th of October.
Tatiana Pavlovky, an industrial psychologist and trainer from JOBS-ICT conducted the career vision workshop designed to develop the skills of the under graduates.
Earlier on the first day vice chancellor Prof. Rafiqul Islam welcomed the students while Dr. Kazi Anis Ahmed, director of Academic affairs, elucidated the vision and values of ULAB as Prof. Imran Rahman and Asst. Prof. M Asiuzzaman spoke on education program and academic life and rules respectively.
Business Journalism comes to IUB
Megan Marsha Barrokh Edwards
 Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) held a small discussion on business journalism on the 27th of September and the special guest of this discussion was Mr Dane Claussen of Point Park University, Pittsburgh.
Dr. Dane Claussen, professor and director of graduate programs in journalism and mass communication teaches Applied Mass Communication Research Methods; Media Ethics and Professional Culture; Newspaper and Magazine Management; Writing the Nonfiction Book; Communication Law and Regulation.
For ten years he worked in the newspaper industry, was a writer, editor and publisher. He is the author of ''Anti-intellectualism in American Media: Magazines and Higher Education" and is the editor of, and a contributor to, "Sex, Religion, Media".
Dr. Dane Claussen is also the editor for ''Journalism and Mass Communication Educator''. Dr. Dane wishes to promote the business stream of journalism and Mass Line Media Center (MMC) is facilitating this project which is supported by Katalyst, Swiss and this project will introduce and promote Business Journalism in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism in Dhaka University and in the Department of Media and Development Communication in Independent University, Bangladesh.
Dr. G.M. Shahidul Alam was also present on this occasion and he added that the Media Department of IUB would start four new streams, one of which will include Business Journalism so that students who are interested can take up a profession in that field. Dr. Dane Claussen said one does not necessarily need to get an MBA to be a business journalist, but one should acquire more from experience and reading and that it is a mixture of self education, media courses and business courses.
Self initiating training program on 'Development Project Planning and Management (DPPM)
M A Samad Hemal
The DPPM- was a first of its kind one-week program in Bangladesh organised by the students of Chittagong University at Bangladesh Rural Academy Development (BARD) at Comilla. Monir Choudhury, a student of Masters, Public Administration of CU took the initiative to arrange the program. Some 40 students (24 from Public Administration, 8 from Anthropology, 6 from Political Science, 1 from social Science of CU and 1 from Urban Regional Planning Dept. of BUET) reached BARD on 7th August.
On August 8, the program was inaugurated at 9am by additional managing director, M Khairul Kabir and deputy director Abdul Karim. Mr. Alauddin, director administration and Mr. Kamrul Hasan, director (Course) welcomed the trainees. On the 2nd day trainees were given theoretical idea about DPPM. On August 10, students were divided into 8 groups with 5 in each group, to build a logical framework. Students had to work hard till mid night to prepare that log frame. On the 4th day, trainees were asked to exercise Preparation of a Project Proposal according to log frame. Course director Mr. Kamrul Ahsan and deputy director general Mr. Abdul Karim helped them out.
On August 12, students were asked to make Development Project Proposal. The trainees did that with great enthusiasm working hard day and night.
On the last day, each group had to present their project on multimedia projector before Mr. Nazrul Islam, DG of BARD, currently working as a secretary of LGERD.
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