Debapriya Bhattacharya, honorary fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said that something is wrong in Bangladesh Bank that is why the central bank has barred journalists from entering.

Criticizing the central bank, he said that some are getting information and some are not. Businessmen are getting information while journalists are not. If information is given to traders, the market is affected and prices rise.

Debapriya Bhattacharya said these things at the Moazzem Hossain memorial lecture organized by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the organization's office in Nayapaltan of the capital on Tuesday (May 7).

He said, Bangladesh Bank is a place of people's expectations, a big pillar of information. Prior to the release of BBS data, economists, analysts and policy makers relied on central bank data on financial indicators including exports and imports. Now why the information has been compromised, it will damage the reputation of Bangladesh Bank.

Regarding Bangladesh Bank, Debapriya Bhattacharya also said that it is a state institution. But journalists are not allowed to enter there. His question, if the information is published will it be a major sabotage? Are financial journalists saboteurs?

Addressing the journalists, Debapriya said, you are important people; you are being honored through the fact that the central bank has taken control of the data.

Debapriya Bhattacharya complained that the public representatives are also not being given information. He said, they are also not entitled to get information. Their grief is no less than journalists. As people's representatives have weaknesses, they cannot speak loudly in front of bureaucrats.

Shamsul Haque Zahid, editor of English daily Financial Express, was the special guest at the event. Moderated by ERF Secretary Abul Kashem, it was chaired by organization president Refayetullah Mridha.

Chattogram University (CU) administration has decided to conduct a dope test for the students who qualified in the admission test. If the dope test report is positive, the administration will cancel the nomination.

On Sunday (05 May) in a meeting of the Deans Committee chaired by CU Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Abu Taher this decision of dope test was taken.

According to the decision, the students will have to pass the dope test before final admission to CU. The entire process will be completed at Chattogram Medical College Hospital(CMC).

CU Vice Chancellor Professor Md. Abu Taher confirmed the matter. The VC told the media that drugs are destroying our society, family and culture. So we have decided to conduct a dope test for students who have passed the admission exam this year. First, those who have successfully cleared the admission test, will be subjected to a dope test. We will then gradually roll out our other students, faculty and staff to ensure accountability and transparency.

The Vice-Chancellor also said that we have spoken to CMC Hospital to start this process. It is not yet clear who will bear this cost. But we are trying to fix a limit—Tk. 200 to Tk. 500.

Professor Siraj Ud Daula, Dean of the Faculty of Sociology told the media, 'We have taken this initiative in the interest of the country. All male and female students are required to submit their blood or urine sample and the results of the test will be submitted to the administration for final tabulation. If someone is positive, then he/she cannot get admission.'

It should be noted that a dope test or drug test is to check whether a specific drug is present in the body of an animal from a sample of any part of its body. Those who regularly take drugs or alcohol, some amount of these addictive substances remain in their bodies. And that was caught through the dope test. A medical test is done to check whether a person is addicted to drugs or not.

In this case, a sample of the person's urine or blood, and sometimes both, is tested. Drug samples can be obtained from oral saliva in the last 1 week, blood samples in the last 2 months, hair samples in the last 12 months or 1 year. 

To increase the quality of education, the president Md. Shahabuddin has ordered to strengthen the supervision activities of the appropriate authorities of the University.

The President said, "In addition to the expansion of higher education, it is very important to ensure the quality of education." The overall supervision of the relevant authorities of the Universities can play an important role in the spread of higher education across the country.

President and Chancellor of Universities Md. Shahabuddin said this during a courtesy meeting on Monday (May 6) at Bangabhaban with a delegation of National University.

After the meeting, the President's press secretary Zainal Abedin told the reporters, "At the meeting, the delegation informed the President about various work plans including the educational programs of the university."

National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Moshiur Rahman the delegation of four members also included Pro- VC Architect Dr. Nizamuddin Ahmed, Treasurer Professor Abdus Salam Howlader and Registrar Mullah Mahfuz Al-Hossein.

The press secretary said that the delegation has invited the President to attend the second convocation of the National University.

President said that students can get a higher degree and establish themselves in the national and international arena, and emphasized on formal education programs as well as non-formal education programs.

The Chancellor of the University directed the authorities to take effective steps for higher training of teachers in the National University. He also suggested introducing skill-based programs along with education programs.

At that time, the concerned Secretaries of the office of the President were present.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that engineers have to play a more effective role in environmental development, implementation of delta plan, fourth industrial revolution, construction of suitable infrastructure to deal with climate change and its adverse effects and achieving food and energy security.

She said, "I expect that engineers will play an important role in building a developed-rich smart golden Bangladesh of the Father of the Nation's dream by 2041."

She said this in a speech on Monday (May 6) on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and 'Engineers Day' tomorrow.

The Prime Minister said, "I extend my best wishes and congratulations to all concerned on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and 'Engineers Day'."

She said that the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman got the time to run the country for only 3 years 7 months 3 days after independence. During the war of liberation, Pak invading forces destroyed 278 railway bridges and 270 road bridges. He re-established communication by repairing and building roads, road-bridges, railways, rail-bridges destroyed in the war. In addition to repairing the damaged road bridges, Bangabandhu's government constructed about 490 kilometers of new roads. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib rebuilt the war-torn country in the fastest possible time. Engineers were one of the main associates of Bangabandhu in this work.

The Prime Minister said that the Awami League government has been responsible for running the country since 2009 and has implemented comprehensive programs for the development of road, rail, marine and communication infrastructure including Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway, Bangabandhu Tunnel, LNG Terminal, Rooppur Nuclear Power Project, 100 Special Economic Zones in the country. The Engineers have been  playing a key role in implementing these development activities.

She also said that our government is always on the side of engineers. During the period 1996-2001 we have registered 10 bigha land in Ramna for construction of IEB building. Besides, we have allocated Tk. 5 crore to start the building work, 72 bigha of land for construction of Engineering Staff College in Daudkandi, Tk. 46 crore to start the construction work of the 2nd phase of Staff College, KDA land allocation for Khulna center, 2 bigha for IEB in Purbachal. Land, provided land for Rangadia, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Dinajpur centers and Feni and Cox's Bazar sub-centres. I have allocated a total of Tk. 46 crore for the IEB building.

The Prime Minister wished for the overall success of all the programs undertaken on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).