The government has announced reopening universities after October 15. The decision to reopen the universities was taken at a joint meeting of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on Thursday noon.
At the same meeting, it was decided to extend the holidays of the secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions. The holiday of the educational institution will remain in force till September 11.
After the discussion of the Vice-Chancellors (VCs) of several universities in the meeting, UGC Chairman Kazi Shahidullah inquired to know about the opening of the universities.
Education Minister, Dipu Moni said that the university will be opened step by step from October 15 following hygiene protocols.
The minister said that before the opening of the university, the issue of vaccination of teachers and students of the universities should be sent to the UGC. She instructed to keep the university closed for those whose vaccination activities would not be completed.
Meanwhile, the issue of National Identity Card (NID) of students was discussed at the meeting. For those who do not have NID, arrangements will be made to get them vaccinated in a timely manner by NID before the introduction of mass vaccination. If not, alternative measures will be taken.
Furthermore, the residential hall of Dhaka University (DU) is scheduled to open in the first week of October after being closed for a long time.
However, even if the residential halls are opened, only the fourth-year undergraduate (honors) and postgraduate students will be allowed in the halls after being vaccinated. Later, students of the rest of the academic year will be allowed to stay in the hall in steps.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the university's provost committee on Tuesday night. At the end of the meeting, Professor Dr Abdul Bashir, the principal of Bijoy Ekattor Hall of the university, confirmed the matter.
He said that students have been given time till September 15 to get vaccinated. The halls will be opened in the first week of October if the students complete the vaccination activities by September 15 and the Covid-19 situation in the country improves.
Dr Abdul Bashir further said that after the opening of the halls, post-graduate and post-graduate (honors) and fourth year students will be allowed to stay. They will leave after completing their exams by November 15.
Then first year, second year and third year students will be brought to the hall and their exams and class activities will continue.
While fourth-year and undergraduate students will continue their activities from the university, first-year, second-year and third-year students will continue their activities online.
The meeting was attended by Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and three Secretaries of the two Ministries of Education and Primary and Mass Education. The meeting was also attended by the Chairman and members of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Vice Chancellors of various universities, Director General of the Department and members of the National Technical Committee.
