BANMUN 2017: Addressing a taboo with teens

AAQIB MD. SHATIL

With "Sustainable Development Goals and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights" as its theme, BANMUN 2017 took place from July 1-4, 2017, at the Udayan Higher Secondary School campus with around 600 youth from all across the country. 

This year, the theme of the conference connected the Sustainable Development Goals with sexual and reproductive health and rights; the agenda of the committees revolved around this theme. The opening ceremony was attended by former ambassador M. Humayun Kabir, and Sadia Faizunnesa, Director General, UN Wing, Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh. 

At the workshop, high school students shared their knowledge and initial reactions about sexual and reproductive health for the first time. Girls shared their health complications and society's ignorance regarding the changes they face during pre-adolescent days. The objective of the workshop was the break the taboo, which was achieved with success.

The delegates, mostly high school students, then attended the committee sessions where they discussed more on the agenda that were designed with a view to engage the students with the theme and let them find solutions to the problems.

On the final day, each committee came up with a resolution on their agenda with a set of solutions. In the closing ceremony, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid MP chaired as the chief guest with Naimur Rahman MP and Acting Country Director of UNDP, Khurshid Alam as the special guest. Mohammad Mamun Mia, President of UNYSAB, was the Secretary General of the conference.

The Daily Star was the Youth Engagement Partner of the event; CMMS was the knowledge partner with the support of Campus Hero Café, an action research initiative supported by NWO-WORTO and ShareNet International.

Primeasia signs agreement to establish Japanese Language Centre

On July 13, 2017, Primeasia University has signed an agreement with Global Breeze Co. Ltd. (GB) and Nippon International Co. Ltd. of Japan.

Under this agreement, Primeasia University will establish a Japanese Language Centre to promote the development of academics, research and training activities, and other educational programmes in its premises. The university graduates will be able to complete short courses on Japanese language and attend different academic institutions in Japan. 

According to the agreement, the students of Primeasia University may pursue Honours and Masters degrees in any institutions of Japan facilitated and supported by GB and NICL. Meanwhile, GB and NICL faculty members will have the opportunity to teach Japanese language in Bangladesh through the university. 

On behalf of Primeasia University, VC Prof. Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury signed the agreement while Michi Shimuyama, CEO and Chairman, Global Breeze Co. Ltd. and Abdul Matin Mollik, Chairman, Nippon International Co. Ltd. signed in the agreement as well.

M. A. Khaleque, Founder and Chairman of BOT, and Md. Nazrul Islam, Vice Chairman of BOT were present in the agreement signing ceremony. Among others, A. K. M. Ashraful Haque, Treasurer, and  Abul Kashem Molla, Registrar of Primeasia University were also present. 

Cambium Technical Training Course begins at DIU

A 4-day long Cambium Certified Technical Training Course has begun today on July 16, 2017, at Daffodil International University (DIU) organised by Cambium Networks. The course was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Yousuf Mahbubul Islam, VC of DIU. Mohit Kalra, Head of Training Faculty, Cambium Networks; Anand Kasula, Sr. Engineer, Cambium Networks; Md. Hasan Hayder Kabir, and Mohammed Nadir Bin Ali, Deputy Director (IT), DIU also spoke at the inauguration ceremony.

DIU always tries to keep itself one step ahead in introducing the latest in professional and educational development. Continuing this culture, DIU has become the academic and training partner of Cambium Network. Cambium Networks is a leading global provider of wireless broadband solutions that connect the unconnected – people, places and things, through its extensive portfolio of reliable, scalable and secure WiFi, fixed wireless broadband point-to-point (PTP) and point-to-multipoint (PMP) platforms.

NSU holds undergraduate admission test for Fall 2017

The Undergraduate Admission Test of Fall 2017 semester of North South University (NSU) was held on July 14, 2017 at the Bashundhara campus. Admission seekers from different parts of the country took part in the exam with the objective to enrol in their respective subjects. The admission test result was published on July 18, 2017. Candidates collected their results from NSU Admission Office, and also from the NSU official website. Document verification and admission process will continue from July 23 to August 3, 2017. More than 2500 candidates took part in the exam this time around. 

ULAB participates in leadership programme in UK

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) took part in the EAUC Driving Sustainability Leadership Program at Westminster College, Cambridge, UK on July 3-6, 2017. The Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) jointly organised this Sustainability Leadership Living Labs programme where prominent scholars from University of Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, and Wales conducted the training. 

Dr. Samiya Selim, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development, went on this 3-day leadership workshop which focused on themes such as operationalising sustainability, sustainable innovation and sustainability leadership. In this workshop, Dr. Selim presented the challenges and opportunities of embedding sustainability in Bangladesh, which is very imperative at the moment with Bangladesh being in the frontline of climate change and at the same time working on achieving the UN SDGs by 2030.