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American Study-Abroad Students at IUB

Hasan Saimum Wahab

A group of 14 students and two faculty members from across the United States representing 3 Universities were in Bangladesh as part of Bangladesh Study Abroad Program (BSAP), which began on the 28th of December 2009 and ended on the 10th of January 2010. Their main focus being Micro Finance in Bangladesh, the students visited Project areas of BRAC, ASA and Grameen Bank. The Study Abroad Programme was organized by School of Social Work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA in cooperation with Case Western Reserve University, USA and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).

The students had the opportunity to meet with Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus at Grameen Bank's office at Mirpur, Dhaka who explained the features of Micro credit programme run by Grameen Bank and all other programmes run by them besides Micro credit as well. They also met with Mr Fazle Hasan Abed, Chairperson of BRAC and Mr Shafiqual Haque Chowdhury, President and Founder of ASA.

The team later visited some local reputed print and electronic media offices which include The Daily Star, The Daily Prothom Alo and ATN Bangla.

The students were amazed and excited to meet and talk with Professor Yunus, the first and only Nobel Laureate in Bangladesh.

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted a farewell dinner on Saturday, 9th January 2010 to the team of American Students where the Chairman of IUB Founding Trust, Mr. Abdul Hafiz Choudhury, Vice Chairman Ambassador C M Murshed, Vice Chancellor of IUB Professor Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury, Pro Vice Chancellor of IUB Prof Omar M Rahman, Professor Mizanur R Miah, Director, School of Social Work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA, Dr Deborah R. Jacobson, Director, International Education Programme, Case Western Reserve University, USA, Dr Michael A Weiss, Professor & Chairman, Dept of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, USA, Md Abu Naser, Doctoral Student, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA, Mr Rajmoni Singha, IUB's Coordinator of the Study-Abroad programme, Registrar and Directors of the Schools of IUB, Heads of the Departments, were all present in the occasion.

Northern University Bangladesh introduces Online Application System

Md. Saifur Rahman Rony

Northern University Bangladesh (NUB), as the first private university, introduced Online Application System to receive application from the prospective students. A MoU was signed at the NUB city campus between Professor M. Shamsul Haque, Vice Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh and Annur Rahman, Managing Director of Solar Soft Limited. Under this contract, VarsityAdmission.COM will provide the online application solution to the university.

Students can apply to NUB through VarsityAdmission.COM from any corner of Bangladesh. NUB is the first private university in Bangladesh that invites and accepts online application. Students can apply to NUB at varsityadmission.com/da/nub.

M. Lutfor Rahman, Director International Affair and Nasrin Sultana, Senior Administrative Officer (Admission) of NUB and Md. Saifur Rahman, Manager, Marketing and Md. Azim Hossain, Senior Executive Marketing of VarsityAdmission.COM were also present in the signing ceremony.

Seminar on women entrepreneurship at JU

Mohammad Hasanul Banna

A seminar titled 'Contemporary Issues & Challenges in Women Entrepreneurship' organised by Institute of Business Administration, Jahangirnagar University (IBA, JU) was held on 7 January. 2010 at the Seminar Library of IBA, JU. The programme was designed to share the research works and entrepreneurial experiences with the students of IBA, JU 15th batch.

Presided over by Chowdhury Golam Kibria and eminent Economist Anu Mohammad, also the Chairman of Economics Department of JU was present as chief discussant in the function.

Anu Mohammad said young women entrepreneurs especially in the countryside should be brought under recognition for their contribution of reducing unemployment. The function was addressed, among others, by Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Rowshan Ara, Director MIDAS Mini Mart, Nadia Binte Amin, Managing Director of Research and Computing Service Private Limited.

Nadia Binte Amin read out the keynote paper on 'Contemporary Issues & Challenges in Women Entrepreneurship.'

She mentioned that women entrepreneurs across the country should be given the recognition socially like men entrepreneurs and our government should take the policy and support and facilities for promoting women entrepreneurship.

The programme was sponsored by Research and Computing Service Private Limited.

AUST Philatelic Exhibition 2010

Kazi Fatima Sharif

Ahsanullah University of Science & Technology (AUST) and Bangladesh National Philatelic Association (BNPA) jointly organised a three day long philatelic exhibition named “AUST Philatelic Exhibition - 2010” from 09 Jan - 11 Jan 2010 in the permanent campus of AUST in Tejgaon Industrial Area.

Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Post & Telecommunication graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. While Mr. Mobashsherur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh Post Office was the Guest of Honor. Mr. M. Anwar Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of AUST presided over the function.

In the speech, Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu called upon the students to come forward to enlist them in the co-curricular activities along with the studies. He also mentioned the importance of stamp collection. Stamp is not only an exhibition item, but more than that. Stamp can be a source of learning. Stamp contains the picture of nature, personality, heritage and customs, history etc. If any one collects tstamps, then they will know every little information regarding that particular stamp.

In the speech, Mr. Mobashsherur Rahman thanked both AUST & BNPA for coming with the innovative idea of arranging this kind of Philatelic Exhibition. He urged that this kind of activities will attract new stamp collectors to collect more stamps to participate in the exhibition. He also ensured that if any help needed, Bangladesh Post Office will happily do it.

In the speech, Professor Dr. M. Anwar Hossain highlighted the importance of stamp collection. It will help them know certain things and at the same time students will properly use the leisure time. In the speech, Prof Dr. Kazi Shariful Alam welcomed all in the AUST Philatelic Exhibition 2010. There were 27 collectors who took part in the exhibition. On the 3rd day all the exhibitors were given a certificate for taking part in the exhibition

(The writer is a student of EEE Department of AUST)

SIU convocation held

Iqbal Siddiquee

The second convocation of the Sylhet International University (SIU) was held amid festivity and pleasurable environment last Monday. The campus took a colourful and festive look to observe the much desired event.

The day's programme began with the hoisting of national flag in the morning. As representative of the university's Chancellor and President, the Finance Minister AMA Muhith chaired the convocation ceremony.

Four meritorious students Syeda Afsana Begum, Touhida Yasmin Chowdhury, Shahjahan Ahmed and Mohammad Abu Taher were awarded Vice-chancellor's Gold Medal while Pabitra Kumar Bhattacharya, Sourav Ahmed and Nazrul Islam were awarded with Dean's awards.

SIU Treasurer, Professor Bahauddin Zakaria conducted the convocation ceremony while University Grants Commission Chairman-Professor Nazrul Islam was present as Chief Guest and the DU Professor emeritus Anisuzzaman was the convocation speaker.

SIU Registrar Professor MA Latif presented the written message from the President and Chancellor while Professor Abdul Matin and Professor Syed Akmal Mahmud also spoke on the convocation ceremony. Lecturers Syed Hasan Mahmud and Roksana Begum conducted the function.

In his presidential address, the Finance Minister said that the government is working hard to bring a major and qualitative change in the education sector. We need to make it modern so that it enables us to cope with the new age, he added. Our private universities are also playing an important role in providing quality education, however much remains to be done yet, he said.

UGC Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam said UGC has been working to develop coordination between the public and private universities. Standard of education should be raised further in the private universities, he added while praising the SIU for their performance over the years.

(Sylhet Staff correspondent of the Daily Star)

ULAB Fair Play Cup T-20 Cricket Tournament

Juditha Ohlmacher

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) is organizing its 3rd annual ULAB Fair Play Cup T-20 Cricket Tournament. Around Six teams will be participating, including: North South University, BRAC University, Stamford University, State University of Bangladesh, Daffodil International University and ULAB. There will be two games played per day. The T-20 Cricket Tournament will begin on January 21-27, 2010. Game 1 will be starting from 9:30am and game 2 from 1:30pm onwards. The venue for the match will be the ULAB Playground, Ramchandrapur, Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

The inauguration ceremony will be on January 21, 2010, at 9:00 at the ULAB Playground.