Keep watch on educational institutions
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday called upon deputy commissioners to increase surveillance at all educational institutions across the country in order to prevent students from getting involved in militancy.
At the DC's meeting with the education ministry, Nahid said his ministry had already instructed all educational institutions to take measures for curbing militancy, and asked the executive magistrates to help implement the orders.
In reply, the DCs said they were aware of the government directives and that they would extend all-out support to curbing militancy and terrorism.
Following the closed-door meeting with the DCs on the second day of the four-day DC conference, the minister told the media what had been discussed.
Nahid told journalists that the DCs had already received directives from the prime minister and some other ministries. His ministry cautioned them against students' involvement in militancy.
Students constitute one third of the population, he said. The youths are being lured into militancy and “so we all have to be very cautious.”
Emphasising the importance of the teachers' role, the minister said teachers should know their students properly and maintain communication with their parents.
"We asked the DCs to get involved in this issue."
About the proposals of the DCs, Nahid said they told him that many educational institutions do not maintain accounts of their income and expenditure, which could pave the way for irregularities.
They also informed that coaching centres run by teachers had mushroomed across the country, and students were becoming dependent on them.
The minister assured the civil bureaucrats that a process was underway for an education act and once the law is enacted, it would oblige educational institutions to keep accounts of their earnings and expenditures.
The act will also lay the legal grounds to curb the growth of coaching centres, Nahid said.
DARUL IHSAN UNIVERSITY
Regarding the shutting down of the private university, Nahid told reporters that its students can claim compensation from the university authority as the government ordered it to close all academic activities.
The authority has to take the responsibility. The students can claim at least Tk 5 lakh in compensation so that they can get admission to another university, the education minister said.
The government will help the students who demand compensation, he added.
A government committee following a probe into the allegations of certificate trade, ownership dispute and other irregularities against the Darul Ihsan University recommended shutting down of the university in 2013.
Nahid yesterday said the university had violated laws and that's why the problem arose.
The university opened up several branches and was involved in "selling certificates", he said, adding that his ministry had tried to shut it down, but the authority continued the operation by securing a stay order from the High Court.
Finally, the HC ruled against it, he said.
Following the HC verdict, the ministry on Monday issued a circular ordering closure of the private university. It also instructed other private universities to shut down illegal branch campuses.
DCS' MEETINGS WITH MINISTERS
Deputy commissioners were asked to show “zero tolerance” against militancy and terrorism, and create public awareness against fundamentalism.
Several ministers came up with the directives yesterday when they held separate meetings with the DCs.
Talking to reporters after a meeting, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said he instructed the DCs to set up anti-terrorist units in every district involving common people so that militancy cannot grow.
Referring to the killings of nine militants in Kalyanpur early Tuesday, he said such steps by the members of law enforcement agencies would help restore confidence among businessmen and foreigners.
LGRD Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain asked the DCs to maintain law and order in their districts and take appropriate measures so that terrorist activities could not take place.
Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali directed the DCs to resolve disputes along the border with India and Myanmar. He also asked them not to do anything that would affect relations with the neighbouring countries.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya instructed the DCs to send relief materials to the flood-affected people in 11 districts.
At a meeting with the power, energy and mineral resources minister, the DCs were asked to ensure adequate security at the power plants and take steps to disconnect illegal electricity and gas lines.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader asked the DCs to take steps to stop plying of three-wheelers on 22 highways. They were also asked to evict all illegal structures along roads and highways.
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