WUST Class of 2024: They Turned the Tassels, Cheered, and Held Their Degrees High



News Desk, Barta24.com
WUST Class of 2024: They Turned the Tassels, Cheered, and Held Their Degrees High

WUST Class of 2024: They Turned the Tassels, Cheered, and Held Their Degrees High

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All the students turned the tassels on their caps from right to left as they were declared graduates. They then held their degrees high, threw their caps into the air, catching them with joy, hugging each other as the hall filled with cheers and rounds of applause. The sound of camera clicks was constant as everyone wanted to capture the moment. Thus, the commencement of the Class of 2024 of Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST) ended. Before that, a total of 213 students from WUST received their degrees in Bachelor's and master's, with 55 from the School of Business and 158 from the School of Information Technology.

The event, held at the Alexandria City High School auditorium, was graced by the presence of state leaders and community dignitaries. Gerry Connolly, U.S. Representative, was the keynote speaker, while Karen Keys-Gammara of the Virginia House of Delegates was among the distinguished guest speakers. Abubokor Hanip, the chancellor and board chairman of the university, gave a welcome address, and university president Dr. Hasan K. Burk officially conferred the degrees and delivered the vote of thanks and concluding remarks.

Gerry Connolly emphasized the importance of technology education and congratulated all the graduates on their achievements. He urged them to contribute to society as they join the most educated part of the United States, Northern Virginia, where two-thirds of the adult population have a bachelor’s degree and more than 30% have an advanced degree, twice the national average. Mentioning the relevance of STEM degrees, the U.S. Representative highlighted the use of technology knowledge to overcome challenges such as climate change, pandemics, artificial intelligence, disinformation, and cybercrimes. "We should ensure the use of technology for good, not for malign purposes," he said.

Engineer Abubokor Hanip, in his welcome address, emphasized the importance of adaptability and urged the students to embrace challenges, overcoming them with the knowledge, values, and qualities they gained from Washington University of Science and Technology.

"You are not just graduates; you are leaders, innovators, and change-makers," he inspired them.

Sharing his own story of struggle to success, the Bangladeshi-American technology education entrepreneur told the crowd how he has contributed to changing the lives of at least 25,000 people and their family members through skill development and providing opportunities within the American mainstream and around the world.

Ms. Karen Keys-Gammara of the Virginia House of Delegates shared a story from her childhood, describing how her father taught her the value of lifelong learning through simple lessons like doing sit-ups. She urged the graduating students to keep striving to achieve new goals each day and to serve their community.

CFO Farhana Hanip shared her challenging journey in the USA, emphasizing how she overcame obstacles by holding onto her belief in herself and her dreams. "I turned adversity into opportunity, balancing my responsibilities as a mother while pursuing my aspirations," she said.

Throughout the ceremony, the graduates also heard from several notable figures, including Sheikh Rahman, State Senator from Georgia; Saddam Azlan Salim, State Senator from Virginia; Dr. Hussain Bhuyan, Director of HDD Group, China; Mr. Siddique Sheikh, WUST Board Member; Mrs. Farhana Hanip, WUST CFO; Mr. Mohammad Mahdee-uz Zaman, WUST Board Member; Dr. Saiful Khandaker, CEO and Founder of Fintech Ecosystem Development (Nasdaq: FEXD); Mr. Nasirul Huq, WUST Board Member; and others.

Each of the speakers congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to pursue their future goals and the American dream with perseverance, patience, and passion.

Two valedictorian graduates, Carlos Israel Moreno Hernandez and Zenifer Afroz Chowdhury, highlighted their journeys with WUST, attributing their success to their dedication. Both top students from the School of IT and School of Business praised their faculties and the school administration for smoothing their learning paths and providing supportive care.

Later, each of the 213 students received their degrees one after another amid cheers and applause. Professor Apostolos Eliopoulos, Director of the School of IT, and Dr. Mark Robinson, Director of the School of Business, handed out the degrees to the graduates from their respective schools.

Dr. Hasan Karaburk took over the microphone to officially declare all the students graduated and to complete the formalities. He thanked all the members of WUST leadership, faculty members, and officials, emphasizing the value of the teamwork that thrives at Washington University of Science and Technology.

Early warnings do not reach flood-hit people



Kollol Roy, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Kurigram
Photo: Barta24.com

Photo: Barta24.com

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Ibat Ali is a resident of Char Dakshin Baladoba Char of Begumganj Union of Ulipur Upazila of Kurigram. As the water in the Brahmaputra river has risen, the water has already reached the rice paddies of his living room. Even if 4 cows are kept in a dune, water has risen in that dune as a result of the continuous increase of water in the last 3 days. He was looking for a boat to take the cows to another place for the last two days. 3 days the cows have been under knee deep water and their legs have started to rot. On Wednesday (July 3) afternoon, on the way to hire a boat to keep the cows in the nearby bazaar, he was saying, 'I thought the water would not rise as much as last time. But it is not possible to stay at home due to the rising water for 3 days. We don't know when the water will rise or fall. Sometimes I listen when I go to the market.

Ibat Ali is not alone. Flood early warning does not reach most of the thousands of families in Kurigram's flood-affected Char area. When the water in the river started to rise in the grazing areas, the communication system was cut off. Due to the lack of boats, most of the families have to rely on other people's boats. Or you have to do urgent work with a boat with a higher rent. Mobile phones cannot be charged due to power outage. Flood affected people have to survive with limited communication even for urgent needs. Char people also have fewer tendencies to go to the local market every day. Everyone has an urge to go to market twice a week and return home quickly in daylight. So many people don't even get a chance to look at the TV in the market.

On Wednesday, Barta 24.com Correspondent visited some wild grasses in Begumganj Union. Along with various crises, many also regret not getting early warning of floods. They said that the damage would have been a little less if the water rise had been reported a few days before the flood. Cattle in particular could be kept safely on high ground.

Montu Mia of Batuatuli Musar Char said, "I have not received the government's announcement." I went to the market, take what I see on TV in the tea shop. I don't go to the market every day. I go for a walk two days a week. I saw the news on TV that the water is raising. But it was not known that it would increase so much. Some items were washed away. A few chickens died. If I had known earlier, I would have left it at a relative's house.

The local administration gives instructions to the local public representatives to convey information to the people on an urgent basis during the flood situation. Begumganj Union Chairman Bablu Mia said, 'Regular updates are delivered to our UP members. Also, we relay information to disaster response committees, village-based volunteers. I will find out why the information does not reach the people of Char area.

Saidul Arif, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram, said, "The local administration (at the Union level) cannot avoid the responsibility of not reaching the flood-affected people on time. It is a collective work. There is no shortage of information. We will work on how to deliver information through coordination.

Due to heavy rains and upstream flow, the water level of Brahmaputra river in Kurigram has exceeded the mark. At 6 pm on Wednesday at Chilmari and Nunkhawa points, the water of this river flowed 34 cm and 32 cm above the danger level respectively. As a result of the continuous rise in water, thousands of people in some upazilas have been flooded in the lower areas of its basin. The water of Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers is increasing. In this situation, flood situation has arisen in the lower part of the district. New areas are being flooded.

Disaster management and relief wing of the district said that about 320 square kilometers area of Kurigram has been flooded. 404 shelters are operational for flood victims. So far 61 metric tons of rice, 2 thousand 967 packets of dry food and cash of Tk. 3 lakh 90 thousand have been distributed. 83 medical teams are deployed for emergency health care.

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Zia-Khaleda-Ershad brought nothing to the country: PM



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Zia-Khaleda-Ershad brought nothing to the country: PM

Zia-Khaleda-Ershad brought nothing to the country: PM

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleged that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, Jatiya Party's Hussain Muhammad Ershad could not bring anything for the country during their visit to India.

Highlighting the diplomatic failure of the parties, she said that after the coming of the Awami League government, India-Bangladesh's 30-year Ganges water agreement, enclave exchange and the three-bigha corridor were opened. But Khaleda Zia, General Ershad and Ziaur Rahman could not solve all these problems.

She said all this in the closing speech of the JS session on Wednesday (July 3). Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presided over the session.

Expressing anger in response to the criticism of the Prime Minister's visit to India from various quarters, she said, "I see some people have raised various issues about my visit to India." After returning to the country after six years in 1981, the same was heard (sale of the country to India). Now don't know why that broken record started playing.

Referring to the reason for not being able to come to power in 2001, the Awami League president said, "We did not get more seats in 2001 even though we got more votes because we did not want to sell gas." That's why I could not form the government. Because I didn't want to sell gas. So who sells the country? Khaleda Zia has done it, Ershad Sahib has done it. Ziaur Rahman did. They have done it, the Awami League does not.

The Prime Minister said, Ziaur Rahman opened our market for Indian products. 40 products are granted duty-free entry. In 1980, he also signed a contract for the sale of gas. Khaleda Zia went to India in 1992. Article 11 of the Joint Manifesto there acknowledges massive infiltration into India from Bangladesh. Then the push in started. Many of our people suffered there. We also demanded in the parliament to withdraw this article, but it was not heeded.

The head of government alleged that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, Jatiya Party's Hussain Muhammad Ershad's visit to India could not bring anything for the country. Highlighting the diplomatic failure of the parties, she said that after the coming of the Awami League government, India-Bangladesh's 30-year Ganges water agreement, enclave exchange and teen bigha corridors were opened. But Khaleda Zia, General Ershad and Ziaur Rahman could not solve all these problems.

Awami League president said, democracy is being talked about. Until now, democracy was imprisoned in the cantonment. There was a curfew all night. After the formation of the Awami League government, democratic rights returned to the people. People are voting for us, we are winning. I hear about torture. Which of our leaders and workers were left from torture during Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia? She said, everyone is talking, holding public meetings, marching, giving speeches. We have opened up radio and television to the private sector. I am doing talk shows as I wish. We are not holding anyone's face; we are not holding anyone's throat. Let him say whatever he can. We are running the state, working for the welfare of the people.

Responding to the criticism of bureaucrats from various quarters, the Prime Minister said, many blame our government officials. But I have seen the sincerity of the very young people (officials) during the Asryan project, their eagerness to work, that really gives me hope. Everyone worked with heart and soul. Such dedicated workers are needed to move this country forward. We need such officers.

The Prime Minister said, I have nothing to lose. There is nothing to gain. My only goal is to improve the country by providing food, education, medical care and shelter to every people of Bangladesh. That's what I want to do. We are moving forward. We will build a smart Bangladesh. At the same time, we will continue the activities to improve the fate of the people of Bangladesh. That's why I want everyone's help. Let us have more success in our new journey. Bangladesh will advance at an unstoppable speed. The people of Bangladesh will get a better and better life.

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Secretaries meeting at 4:30, good governance will get importance



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Secretaries meeting at 4:30, good governance will get importance

Secretaries meeting at 4:30, good governance will get importance

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Cabinet division has convened a meeting of the Secretaries. The meeting will be held on Thursday (July 4) at 4:30 pm in the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat. A letter has already been sent to the secretaries of all the ministries from the cabinet Division to attend the meeting.

Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain will preside over the meeting. Four issues including morality and good governance have been put on the agenda of the meeting.

It is said that various instructions may be given to the Secretaries in the meeting regarding the ongoing situation and contemporary issues. Apart from this, directions may also come on the issue of corruption allegations by some government employees.

This year's Secretary meeting is considered important for many reasons. In recent times, government employees have been criticized for irregularities and corruption. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, National Board of Revenue officer Matiur Rahman and several other government officials have been exposed in the media.

Good governance is one of the agenda items in Thursday's Secretary meeting. According to the sources concerned, strict instructions may be given to the Secretaries regarding corruption in the meeting.

Four agendas have been set for the Secretaries meeting. They are integrity, good governance, election manifesto implementation and budget implementation.

There will be instructions for the secretaries to take action plans from the beginning of the year so that the budget for the financial year 2024-25 is implemented properly. Apart from this, a Secretary told a media that contemporary issues may be discussed in various discussions.

This will be the second Secretarial meeting of the current government after the Awami League came to power for the third consecutive term after winning the January 7 national elections. Earlier, the first meeting was held on February 5. At present there are 84 Secretaries.

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India has no objection to PM's visit to China: Foreign Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
photo: Collected

photo: Collected

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Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood has commented that India has no objection to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to China.

The Foreign Minister made this comment while talking to reporters after inaugurating the academy's journal, smart library and website at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Wednesday (July 3) afternoon.

Expressing the hope of moving forward by maintaining good relations with neighboring India, Hasan Mahmud said, "Our foreign policy is friendship with all, not enmity with anyone. We want to move the country forward by maintaining good relations with everyone.

He said that the Prime Minister visited India a few days ago. That visit was very fruitful. During the visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the visit to China.

He also said that China is our major development partner country. In our infrastructure development, many iconic structures including the Bangabandhu Tunnel, Padma Bridge, etc. have taken Chinese money and manpower. So the next visit is definitely very important. This visit is important to accelerate the development journey that China has been playing in our development journey for so long.

In response to the question whether there will be any new agreement during the visit to China, the foreign minister said that it has not been finalized yet. It's not time to tell yet.

When asked if India had any objection to visit China, he said, India never had any objection. When we discussed the Rohingya issue, China's role was discussed. Then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, I am going to China, I will discuss the matter there. This is how the matter came about.

He said that the relationship with Saudi Arabia is not only limited to the export of workers, it is multi-dimensional. Saudi Arabia wants to invest in Bangladesh; they will invest in the Special Economic Zone.

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