DHAKA, Sept 9, 2026 (BSS) - Chairman of Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed today recommended formulating policies to ensure responsible, ethical and transparent use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country’s universities, saying it is not possible to ban the technology.  “Policies should clearly specify in what tasks or research AI can be used for, where it cannot be used, and exactly how much it has been used,” he said. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the high-level ‘Academic and Research Integrity Conclave 2026’ held at BRAC University.  “Although AI can accelerate education and research, it can also spread misinformation and bias. Large language models powered by AI will not take responsibility for any answer. Therefore, we ourselves must take the ultimate responsibility for the use of the technology and ensure transparency,” he added.  Proposing the introduction of an ‘AI Disclosure Statement’ to ensure transparency in research, the UGC chairman said researchers should clearly state in their work which AI tools were used, for what purposes, and how the accuracy of the information was verified.  He also called for changes to traditional methods of student assessment in universities in the age of AI.  Instead of relying solely on AI detection software, he stressed methods such as assessing students’ own thinking, oral examinations, preserving drafts of research work and evaluating their ability to solve real-world problems.  Professor Ahmed also urged universities to give greater importance to the quality of research rather than the number of publications when considering teachers’ promotions.  “Five low-quality publications are less valuable than one high-quality research paper,” he said.  He stressed the need for effective monitoring and accountability at universities to prevent the growing practice of publishing in predatory journals and generating fake data using AI amid intense competition to increase the number of research papers.  The UGC chief further recommended introducing a compulsory course on ‘Research Ethics and Proper Citation’ for students of all disciplines or departments before they obtain their undergraduate degrees.  He also stressed the need for a national framework to set standards on plagiarism, authorship, data management and the limits of AI use. BRAC University Board of Trustees member Ms. Rasheda K. Choudhury, Dhaka University Emeritus Professor Dr AFM Yusuf Haider, Turnitin’s South Asia Regional Director Chaitali Moitra and BRAC University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury  spoke at the event as special guests and discussants.  Vice-chancellors, researchers and academics from various public and private universities were also present at the conclave.

RANGPUR, Sept 9, 2026 (BSS) - A mobile court fined a molasses factory in Gyanarpara village under Mithapukur upazila in the district Tk 1,50,000 for producing adulterated molasses in a dirty and unhygienic environment today. Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Mithapukur upazila, Ashiq Zaman, conducted the mobile court with the assistance of Bangladesh Safe Food Authority (BFSA) officials and members of law enforcement agencies. This raid was conducted at the factory based on information that it had long been posing a serious risk to public health by producing adulterated molasses using harmful chemicals and substandard ingredients. During the raid, the court observed such irregularities in making molasses in an unhygienic and damp environment, with unauthorized non-food-grade harmful colors and flavors, hydrose, low-quality canned chita jaggery, flour, and sugar. For these irregularities, the mobile court fined the factory owner Mokleshar Rahman Taka 1,50,000 under the 'Safe Food Act, 2013'. After the raid, the Executive Magistrate said that the administration is taking a strict stand against any dishonest and adulterated business that poses a health risk to people.  "Such drives will continue to protect public health," he said.