Halls to reopen as per govt decision: DU vice-chancellor
Classes will resume only after students, teachers and employees are vaccinated by 17 April
Dhaka University authorities have announced that residential halls will be reopened on 17 May as per the government's recent decision regarding the matter.
"The classes will resume only after students, teachers and employees are vaccinated by 17 April," said Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Regarding the students' protests demanding the reopening of residential halls, Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman said, "We hope the students will respect the government's decision and wait until the authorities officially reopen the halls."
Previously, the authorities had decided to reopen the residential halls from the first week of March for the candidates of honours and master's examinations.
About the examination dates of the seven affiliated colleges of the Dhaka University, Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman said Pro Vice-Chancellor (education) Professor ASM Maksud Kamal will hold a meeting regarding the issue soon.
Students of different universities – including Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, and Chattogram University – recently intensified their protests demanding that the authorities concerned reopen halls that have been kept closed due to the pandemic.
In face of the protests, the government decided to reopen the residential halls of public universities on 17 May, and the public and private universities on 24 May.
Meanwhile, around 100 students of Dhaka University broke into Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall at around 12pm on Monday, two days after protesting students of Jahangirnagar University broke into a hall on their campus.