The Ministry of Public Administration has sent 22 DCs who served as returning officers in the 2014 and 2018 national elections on compulsory retirement.

This information was confirmed by the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Dr. Md. Mokhles Ur Rahman, at the Secretariat on Thursday (February 20).

He said that four of the DCs who served as returning officers in the 2014 elections are now in service. The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a notification sending 18 more people, including these four, on compulsory retirement in 2018.

Earlier, on Wednesday, 33 Deputy Commissioners (DCs) who served as returning officers during the 2018 elections were made Officers on Special Duty (OSD). These 33 were working as joint secretaries in various ministries and departments. Earlier, 12 officers were also made OSD for the same reason.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions in various fields, 18 distinguished individuals, including the women's football team, were presented with the Ekushey Padak by the Chief Adviser to the interim government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

He presented the medals at a special ceremony at the Osmany Memorial Auditorium in the capital at 11 am on Thursday (February 20).

This year's Ekushey Padak recipients are - Azizur Rahman (posthumous) in film, Ustad Nirad Baran Barua (posthumous) and Ferdous Ara in music, Nasir Ali Mamun in photography and Rokeya Sultana in painting. Mahfuz Ullah in journalism (posthumous), Moidul Hasan in research, and Dr. Niaz Zaman in education.

In addition, Mehdi Hasan Khan (team leader), Rifat Nabi (team member), Md. Tanbin Islam Siam (party) and Shabab Mustafa (party). Mohammad Yusuf Chowdhury (posthumous) in social service, Helal Hafiz (posthumous) and Shahidul Zahir (Md. Shahidul Haque) (posthumous) in language and literature. Mahmudur Rahman in journalism and human rights, Dr. Shahidul Alam in culture and education and the Bangladesh National Women's Football Team in sports.

Relevantly, the Ekushey Padak, launched in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement, is given by the government every year in recognition of special contributions in various fields. The Ekushey Padak has been given to the country's prominent writers, artists, educators, language soldiers, linguists, researchers, journalists, economists, personalities and institutions that have contributed to poverty alleviation at the national level in recognition of their unique contributions.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has called an emergency press conference and released the list of the four main leaders of the private university convening committee.

The press conference was organized at the central office of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Bangla Motor at 10 pm on Wednesday (February 19). Rifat Rashid, executive member of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, announced the committee.

The committee was officially announced on the 16th of this month. M.J.H. Manju, a student of European University, is in the combined private university convening committee. He will serve as the convener. Atiq Shahria, a student of North South University, is the member secretary. Omar Faruk, a student of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology, has been made the main organizer and Sabina Yasmin, a student of ULAB University, has been made the spokesperson.

In a written statement at the press conference, Rifat Rashid said, "In the July mass uprising, more than 2,000 students of government, semi-government, private schools, colleges and madrasas, and countless workers and the public lost their lives. Fifty thousand people were injured. The countrymen are aware of the leading role of private universities in this fight to free the country from tyranny. We lost countless classmates, brothers and friends in the bloody July. Their sacrifice has made us pledge to remain uncompromising on the issue of the country and sovereignty.

Rifat said that the combined private universities of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will recognize Northern University's Shahid Asif as the first martyr and Southeast University as the university of the highest martyr on July 18 at 11:30 am. Naeem Abedin, a member of the central executive committee of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, said, "When the police were attacking RAB public universities everywhere, your Rampura Badda Uttaranchal and private university students in Sylhet and Chattogram." Sheikh Hasina kept the middle class and upper middle class away from politics, now they have learned to speak.

Zahid Ahsan, a central member of the platform, said, "Private universities did not only cooperate with us in July, they have cooperated before as well. The journey of private universities did not start with this movement, they have also cooperated with us politically before. We have found a new political community in the July mass uprising. One of them is the students of private universities. We have to keep these students of private universities in politics. Getting them involved in politics is one of our biggest responsibilities." 

The government has finally removed Professor Ehtesam ul Haque from the post of Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (DSHE) due to his association with the Awami League government and the ongoing agitation by teachers and employees.

He was removed from the post 20 days after his appointment. Muhammad Azad Khan, a professor of the science department of Jamalpur's Ashek Mahmud Government College, has been appointed as the new DG.

On Wednesday (February 19), the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department of the Ministry of Education issued a notification appointing Ehtesam ul Haque as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD). It was signed by Deputy Secretary Md. Mahbub Alam. In another order, Azad Khan was appointed as the new Director General.

The notification said that BCS Education Cadre officer Professor Dr. Md. Ehtesam ul Haque was transferred/promoted as the Special Officer-in-Charge of the Ministry of Education on his own salary and salary until he is reappointed.

On January 30, Ehtesam ul Haque, a professor of the chemistry department of Patuakhali Government College, was appointed as the Director General of the Ministry of Education. The matter came to light on February 2. After the news of his appointment became known, there was a storm of criticism.

Education cadre officials also expressed their anger. At one stage, teachers and employees held several protests, rallies and blockades of the education building demanding his removal.

Angered by his appointment, members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and Citizens' Committee met with Siddiq Jobayer, Senior Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education, on Sunday (February 2) and demanded the cancellation of their order. Otherwise, they threatened to surround the Ministry of Education and the NAEM on Monday (February 3). During this, they had an argument with the secretary. The secretary, who had come on contract, said excitedly, "If that happens, I will leave."