Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new fee structure for international students seeking employment through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, including a $70,000 fee for initial OPT participation and a $30,000 fee for subsequent participation.

Under the proposed rule, the fees would be paid by Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools rather than directly by F-1 students. DHS said the proposal is intended to address fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system and protect U.S. workers.

The proposal would require a school to pay $70,000 when an F-1 student is initially recommended for OPT. A $30,000 fee would apply to any subsequent OPT authorization, including subsequent participation such as a STEM OPT extension.

“Optional Practical Training was never meant to be a back door into the American workforce, a subsidy for cheap labor, or a prize for those who game the system,” a DHS spokesperson said.

DHS said the proposed fees are intended to discourage the misuse of the OPT program and encourage schools to exercise greater oversight when recommending students for employment authorization.

Under current federal regulations, eligible F-1 students may participate in OPT when the employment is directly related to their major area of study. Students must receive a recommendation from their designated school official (DSO) and apply for employment authorization through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

F-1 students may participate in OPT before completing their academic program, known as pre-completion OPT, or after completing their program, known as post-completion OPT. Eligible students can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT at each education level. Students who earn degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields may qualify for an additional 24-month extension.

DHS said the proposed rule follows concerns identified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regarding fraud and abuse involving schools, designated school officials, employers and F-1 students.

According to DHS, officials have identified schemes involving problematic worksites and so-called “pay-to-stay” arrangements, in which students allegedly maintain their immigration status through arrangements that do not reflect the intended purpose of practical training.

Under the proposed system, SEVP-certified schools would have to pay the applicable fee before their designated school officials recommend an F-1 student for OPT in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

The fee would also have to be paid before the student applies for employment authorization with USCIS. DHS said USCIS would not grant employment authorization if the required fee had not been paid by the school.

The proposed fee would not be linked to a particular employer. Instead, it would apply when a school recommends an F-1 student for any type of OPT. The collected fees would be deposited into the U.S. Treasury.

The proposal comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue changes to immigration and employment programs involving international students and foreign workers. The proposed OPT fee is separate from other immigration measures and remains subject to the federal rulemaking process.

The proposed fees would represent a significant new cost for colleges and universities that recommend international students for OPT. The program is widely used by international students seeking U.S. work experience after completing their studies, particularly graduates in STEM fields.

DHS will accept public comments on the proposed rule beginning October 8 and continuing through November 9. The Paperwork Reduction Act section of the proposal will have a separate 60-day public comment period.

After the comment period ends, DHS will review the submissions and other materials received from the public. The agency may revise the proposal before issuing a final rule. The proposal is not yet a final regulation. Until DHS completes the rulemaking process and issues a final rule, the proposed $70,000 and $30,000 fees do not constitute final OPT requirements.

DHAKA- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said ensuring every child gets the opportunity to grow and develop properly is crucial to building a strong foundation for Bangladesh and making the country stronger in the today’s competitive world.

“Today’s children are the pillars of their families. If they can grow up properly, the foundation of their families will become stronger. Likewise, if we can provide all children across Bangladesh with opportunities to develop properly, the foundation of our country will become much stronger,” he said.

The Prime Minister was speaking in a discussion at Bangladesh Shishu Academy marking the Children’s Rights Day 2026 and the 50th anniversary of the academy.

Tarique Rahman said, “Making the future of today’s children strong means making the future of the nation strong. And a strong future for the nation means we will be able to build a strong and powerful Bangladesh.”

Addressing the children as his “little friends”, the Premier said children should not be confined only to academic studies, but should also be given opportunities to explore their talents in sports, arts, culture and music. He urged parents to recognise and nurture the individual qualities of their children instead of putting them under pressure to pursue only conventional academic activities.

“I want you to complete what I could not,” he told the children, recalling his own childhood interest in playing the guitar and keyboard. The Prime Minister said many children have talents in drawing, recitation, music, dance and other creative activities, and urged them to develop those talents fully.

He said the government wants children to have exposure to arts and culture alongside sports and music so that they can develop themselves according to their individual interests.

Tarique Rahman said the government has already taken initiatives to identify and develop children’s sporting talents, including a nationwide primary-level football competition in which around 22 lakhs boys and girls participated.

He expressed the hope that if such initiatives are continued, internationally acclaimed footballers and other sports talents would emerge from among the country’s children.

He also recalled the “Natun Kuri” programme introduced by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to promote children’s cultural talents, saying the programme has been revived alongside a sports-based “Natun Kuri” initiative.

“We want to build our children in such a way that a child will have good exposure to art and culture, become skilled in them, and similarly develop proficiency in music and sports,” he said.
The Prime Minister said many families, particularly those in remote and rural areas, cannot afford to provide children with opportunities for extracurricular activities.

“So, from the school level, we are trying to create facilities for arts, culture, sports and music so that every child can choose a subject according to his or her preference,” he said.

He said the government expects to begin the full process from 2027 or 2028, under which children at primary and secondary levels would have opportunities to learn music, play musical instruments and choose sports according to their interests.

The Prime Minister also announced plans to introduce opportunities for children to learn a third language in addition to Bangla and English, with options including Arabic, Mandarin, German and Japanese.

He said knowledge of an additional foreign language would help children in their future education and employment abroad and enable them to compete and survive more effectively in the global environment.

However, he stressed that academic, sporting, artistic or linguistic achievements alone would not be enough. “Children must also become humane,” he said, urging them to show compassion not only towards people but also towards nature, animals and birds.

Calling upon parents and guardians to instil a sense of responsibility towards the environment and other living beings in children, the Prime Minister said, “If we are kind to nature, nature will certainly be kind to us.”

The premier also urged children to care for trees and animals around their homes and schools and sought their cooperation in keeping the environment clean. He asked them to discourage adults from throwing garbage indiscriminately in public places.

“If you see an adult throwing garbage or waste somewhere and harming the environment, you can tell them to put it in the proper place,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said a clean environment would help children grow up in a healthy environment and become physically and mentally healthy people.

He called on all sections of society to work together to build the country saying the task does not necessarily require major efforts but can be achieved through small, collective actions.

“We will build this country ourselves. If we want to build the country, all of us must work together,” he said.

The Prime Minister also recalled visiting the academy as a child with his younger brother and parents- Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia- at the time of its inauguration.

He said he also found some of his and his younger brother’s writings displayed at the academy, taking him back five decades in his memories.

Prime Minister’s wife and Vice-President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation Dr Zubaida Rahman also addressed the event, chaired by Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain.

Earlier, 150 children welcomed the Prime Minister when he arrived at Bangladesh Shishu Academy premises. Later, the programme began with the national anthem.

Following the discussion, the Prime Minister enjoyed a cultural event performed by children and visited the children’s drawings and a photo exhibition gallery.

DHAKA- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the government is working to make teaching a first-choice profession for meritorious people by reforming teacher recruitment and the education system.

“Teaching can never be a profession of last resort or merely another job. Rather, we are reshaping teacher recruitment and the education system to ensure that the most meritorious people choose teaching as their first choice of profession,” he said. The Prime Minister was addressing as the chief guest at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here marking World Teachers’ Day 2026 and honouring selected teachers from primary to higher education levels with the national ‘Eminent Teacher Award’.

Tarique Rahman said, “We believe that the dignity of the state is linked to the honour and dignity of teachers in the state and society. If the dignity of teachers remains intact in society, the image of the state is enhanced.”

This year’s theme of World Teachers’ Day is: “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Enhancing Dignity and Shaping Our Future.”

The Prime Minister expressed his profound respect to teachers of all primary and secondary schools, colleges, madrasas, technical institutions and universities across the country, and congratulated those who received the ‘Eminent Teacher Award’ for their merit and competence.

He said if teachers could become the “need and loved ones” of their students, it would be easier for the students to face global challenges as responsible citizens through education.

Referring to teachers as “ideal role models” for every student after they move beyond the family school, Tarique Rahman said the government is formulating and implementing plans so that teachers can confidently present themselves as role models before their students.

In the era of rapid development of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), he said, there is no alternative to technical and practical education beyond conventional teaching methods.

“So, changing the strategies of learning and teaching and modernising the education curriculum is the demand of the time,” he said.

The government has formulated a new curriculum based on the realities of the time, and students will receive textbooks based on the new curriculum within this year, the Premier said, adding that the methods of learning and teaching are extremely important to ensure that students do not become alienated from books.

“Instead of mere memorisation, we have to raise the questions of ‘why’ and ‘how’ in the minds of students. If curiosity is created, a student can become his or her own teacher,” he continued.

Tarique Rahman said “joyful learning” has become popular across the world, particularly among school students.

For the first time in Bangladesh, he said, the Ministry of Education is providing sixth-grade students with a new book titled “Learning with Happiness”. Similar books will be introduced for other grades in phases.

The prime minister said the education system currently faces both immense opportunities and major challenges. Artificial intelligence has opened up vast opportunities for acquiring knowledge, while technical and practical knowledge has become indispensable instead of certificate-based knowledge, he added.

Referring to the new challenges created for teachers by rapid advances in information technology, Tarique Rahman said teachers’ training colleges need to be further modernised to meet the challenges of the time.

“We do not want to see technology as a substitute for teachers. Rather, technology will be the strength of teachers,” he said, adding that the government is advancing the “One Teacher, One Tab” programme to this end.

The prime minister said teachers would be able to use digital lesson plans, question banks, students’ learning progress data and necessary teaching materials through their tablets. Multimedia classrooms are also being
expanded at educational institutions across the country, while free Wi-Fi facilities are being increased, he added.

The Premier said the government wants to build an education system where no child is deprived of education.”It is also essential to ensure that even if someone drops out at any stage of their educational life for any reason, they do not remain unemployed,” he said.

Describing education as the biggest priority of the incumbent government, Tarique Rahman said the highest-ever allocation for education has been made in the national budget for the first time in the country’s history and the allocation will be increased gradually.

Highlighting the scale of secondary education, he said there are currently around 21,000 institutions at the secondary level, where more than 300,000 teachers are providing education to millions of students.

“Much of secondary education depends on private and MPO-listed institutions,” he said.

“There is still some disparity between urban and rural areas in terms of educational opportunities,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the government has various plans to ensure that students in both urban and rural
areas have access to skilled teachers and modern technology.

Describing the government’s approach to reforming the education system, he said its core foundations are equal opportunities, quality education and non-discriminatory access.

Tarique Rahman said employment-oriented education is necessary, but employment is not the sole purpose of education. “Moral and character development is also one of the key objectives of education. If knowledge is not linked with morality, it can become a cause of harm rather than benefit to society,” he continued.

Urging teachers to make truthfulness, a sense of responsibility, empathy, patriotism, humanity, discipline and respect for others integral parts of education, he said teachers play the most important role after families in
instilling moral values in students.

Highlighting various government measures to ensure teachers’ financial security and make teaching a more dignified and competitive profession, the Prime Minister said the government is working particularly for teachers at the primary, secondary and higher-secondary levels.

He further said the President and the Prime Minister invite people from different professions and sections of society to state functions at national occasions, including Independence Day and Victory Day.

“From this year, based on a policy, the concerned authorities are being instructed to make it mandatory to invite at least one teacher each from primary and secondary schools to such events,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said a teacher, whether serving or retired, remains worthy of the state’s respect throughout his or her life because of the noble profession.

Mentioning instructions to end harassment of teachers in receiving salaries and retirement benefits, he said a teacher should not have to visit offices and suffer hardship merely to receive salary or retirement benefits.

“The money due to a teacher must reach their bank account on time and in accordance with the rules,” he said. The Premier said the country’s teachers are one of the key instruments for building a knowledge-based state and society. World Teachers’ Day is observed globally on October 5 every year to highlight the importance of teachers’ dignity, rights, professional development and ensuring quality education.

Chaired by Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, it was also addressed, among others, by National Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah, Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Education Md Selim Bhuiyan.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Some 5.8 million refugee children — nearly half of all school-aged refugee children worldwide — were out of school in 2025, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said Friday, warning that funding cuts could threaten hard-won progress in refugee education. According to UNHCR’s latest education report, an estimated 13.1 million refugee children of school age were living around the world in 2025. Of those, 44 percent were not enrolled in school.

The agency said the growing pressure on humanitarian and development funding risks reversing progress made in recent years and could leave more refugee children without access to education. The challenge becomes particularly severe as refugee children move from primary to secondary education. UNHCR said access to education declines significantly at the secondary level, with poverty, protection concerns and other barriers affecting children and adolescents, particularly girls.

Despite the overall challenges, UNHCR reported some progress in higher education. Refugee enrolment in tertiary education reached a record 11 percent in 2025, up from 9 percent in 2024, with more than 450,000 refugees enrolled in higher education.

UNHCR said the progress remains uneven. In low-income and conflict-affected countries, only about 2 percent of refugees were enrolled in higher education, compared with 13 percent of nationals, according to the agency’s report. The agency is calling on governments, international organisations and development partners to protect funding for refugee education and strengthen national education systems in countries hosting refugees.

UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih said education provides refugees with opportunities for greater self-reliance and warned that funding reductions could undermine years of investment. The report was highlighted during the UN Geneva press briefing on October 2, where UNHCR presented its latest findings on refugee education.

The report comes as humanitarian agencies face increasing financial pressure and competing global crises. UNHCR has warned that reductions in humanitarian funding are already affecting assistance and protection services for forcibly displaced people.

DHAKA – The US Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday observed US Constitution Day at Dhaka University, highlighting constitutional principles, democratic values and the traditions that have shaped the American constitutional system for more than two centuries.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen joined Law Minister Mohammad Asaduzzaman, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Abdus Salam, constitutional experts, academics and students at the programme held at the university’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building.

In his remarks, Christensen highlighted the role of continuous debate and the pursuit of consensus in contributing to the resilience of the US Constitution. He also pointed to the Constitution’s emphasis on separation of powers, judicial independence and the ability to adopt amendments. The ambassador said these features have allowed the US constitutional system to evolve over time and have contributed to its influence on democratic systems around the world.

Dhaka University said the programme also featured discussions on constitutional governance, separation of powers, judicial independence, constitutional rights and comparative aspects of the constitutional experiences of Bangladesh and the United States.

Law Minister Asaduzzaman highlighted the historical significance of the US Constitution and its role in institutionalising principles related to democracy, freedom and the rule of law. He also noted the value of comparative academic discussions on issues such as judicial review, fundamental rights and constitutional limitations on state power. The Constitution Day programme included a public ceremony, panel discussion, essay competition, quiz contest and an exhibition titled “American Founders Museum.”

The event was organised as part of activities marking 250 years of American democracy. Constitution Day is observed annually in the United States on September 17, commemorating the signing of the US Constitution in 1787.

Dhaka: Activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) assaulted two Ducsu office-bearers inside Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday evening. The victims are Ducsu Secretary for Literature and Cultural Affairs Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad and Social Welfare Secretary AB Zubair.

Eyewitnesses said JCD activists went to the police station to file a case against Dhaka University student Abdullah Al Mahmud, whom they alleged was linked to Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) and had made a Facebook post they considered offensive. The group had earlier announced the move.

At the same time, Abdullah Al Mahmud also arrived at the police station to submit a general diary over concerns for his personal safety. Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad, A B Zubair, and Fatima Tasnim Zuma accompanied him.

Witnesses said tensions escalated when both sides came face to face inside the station, leading to a confrontation between Ducsu representatives and JCD activists that quickly turned violent. Around 20 to 30 JCD activists then attacked Musaddiq and Zubair inside the police station, assaulting them separately, according to eyewitness accounts.

JCD leaders, however, claimed Musaddiq triggered the violence by attempting to strike a joint secretary of the Chhatra Dal’s Dhaka University unit. Senior JCD leaders later intervened and moved the two Ducsu leaders to a secure area inside the police station.

Witnesses also said a group of activists chanted slogans inside the station for around 20 minutes, demanding that the Ducsu leaders be handed over to them. Senior leaders later dispersed the group from the premises, though they remained gathered at the gate for some time.

Later in the evening, Ramna Zone Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam escorted A B Zubair and Fatima Tasnim Zuma to Shahbagh police station Jame Masjid around 9 pm after they were taken to safety.

RAJSHAHI – The long-standing problem of iron-rich water at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) is set to be resolved. On Tuesday, a modern Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plant was experimentally launched for the first time in four of the university’s residential halls. The university administration hopes this will ensure safe and hygienic drinking water for the resident students.

According to university sources, the technical installation of the plant has been completed on the rooftops of four newly constructed residential halls—Student Hall-1, Student Hall-2, Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani Hall (Female Hall-1), and Female Hall-2.

The project, implemented by the university’s Planning and Development Office, cost approximately Taka 30 lakh being supervised by Professor Dr. H. M. Russell, Director of the Planning and Development Office.

He said, “The plant has initially been launched in these four halls. This initiative can provide an effective solution to the long-standing problem of iron-rich water in the Rajshahi region. There are plans to expand the project further in the future.”

Students have long faced difficulties with drinking water quality due to high iron content in the region’s groundwater. As part of a special initiative by the university administration, these plants have been installed to address the problem.

Reverse Osmosis is a modern water purification method that removes harmful substances, excess salts, iron, and other impurities through a specialized membrane. The resulting water is completely safe and hygienic for drinking.

Students have described the university’s initiative as timely and necessary. They expressed hope that the launch of this plant will provide a permanent solution to water quality issues and anticipate that this facility will soon be extended to other residential halls and academic buildings across the campus. Officials viewed this step to ensure safe water supply as a significant milestone in improving the quality of life on the RUET campus.

DHAKA – University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed has proposed the formation of a ‘BIMSTEC Higher Education Network’ to ensure smooth and seamless exchange of teachers, researchers and students among higher education institutions of BIMSTEC member countries.

He made the proposal while chairing a session at the closing ceremony of a seminar titled ‘Bridging Regions, Building Futures: BIMSTEC under the Spotlight’ held at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Department of International Relations of Dhaka University and the BIMSTEC Secretariat. Dr. Mamun said such a regional network would facilitate the introduction of joint degree programmes, easier credit transfer for students and coordinated research activities among universities in member states.

He noted that universities in the region have long operated in isolation despite shared history, culture and development challenges, stressing the need for stronger regional academic cooperation.

Highlighting the current global context marked by geopolitical changes, climate risks and shifting economic priorities, he said it is essential to bring together scholars and policymakers across the region. He emphasized strengthening joint initiatives in digital connectivity, blue economy, STEM education and climate resilience.

He also said the Bay of Bengal is not just a geographical boundary but an important medium of regional connectivity, adding that human resource development must be prioritized to build a stable and prosperous region, where higher education plays a key role.

He underscored the importance of such seminars in aligning higher education with regional needs and called for building concrete partnerships, advancing joint initiatives and strengthening institutional trust. Professor Dr Md Abdul Mannan of Dhaka University delivered the vote of thanks at the end of the event.

DHAKA  – Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today said the government is considering introducing online classes in educational institutions, particularly in metropolitan areas, in view of the evolving global situation.

“In metropolitan areas where students depend on bus transportation, we are considering online classes. But no final decision has yet been taken,” he told journalists after a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Building this afternoon.

Dr. Milon said the government is actively reviewing how classes will be conducted and how the education system will operate in the coming days, taking into account the current international context.

“The issue applies nationwide, but especially in metropolitan areas where students depend on bus transportation, we are considering online classes,” he added, noting that no final decision has yet been taken.

“The Ministry of Education will soon send a set of proposals to the Cabinet Division considering the prevailing global conflict situation,” he said, adding that a final decision will be taken after receiving approval from the authorities concerned.

Referring to the meeting, the minister said that the Prime Minister has given important directives to ensure the continuity of the ongoing pace of the education system, which will be implemented accordingly.

He also noted that due to international crises, along with disruptions caused by Ramadan holidays and various domestic movements, significant instructional hours have already been lost, which the government must take into account.

“However, if we shift completely to online education, there is a risk of becoming socially disconnected. So, any decision will be taken carefully after thorough consideration,” the Education Minister added.

DHAKA – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the Education Ministry to explore alternative measures to ease traffic congestion in the capital during school hours. The premier came up with the directive at a meeting with Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj at the Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said possible ways to reduce traffic congestion in city during school hours and what alternative arrangements could be introduced for this were discussed in the meeting.

“The Prime Minister asked the ministry to prepare proposals in this regard,” he added. Explaining the matter, Ruman said, “For example, it has been observed that around 100 cars crowd in front of a school for 150 students, causing serious traffic jams and difficulties for students to reach their institutions”.

The premier advised the minister to address these issues and find alternatives. After the meeting with the education minister, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku and State Minister Aninda Islam Amit also met the Prime Minister. Subsequently, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan also called on the Prime Minister.