Public and private universities to reopen 24 May, halls on 17 May

In the face of protests at different universities across the country, the government has decided to reopen the public and private universities on 24 May. 

The residential halls of public universities will be reopened on 17 May. 

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni made the disclosure in a virtual briefing on Monday afternoon on various issues of higher education amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Besides, no examinations will be taken before the reopening, but online classes will continue.

"Before reopening, the teachers, students and employees will be vaccinated," the minister added.

There are 1.30 lakh residential students, 15,000 teachers and 25,000 employees in different public universities. They will be vaccinated first. 

The decision on reopening school and colleges will be taken after 28 February, she added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked concerned ministries to meet over taking decision on reopening the other educational institutions.

"A meeting will be held by next week to form a committee, which will decide about the reopening after observing the current pandemic situation," Cabinet Secretary Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam told media after cabinet meeting today.

The students of different universities, including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Jahangirnagar and Chattogram, intensified their protests since Saturday with the demand of reopening halls, which had been kept closed citing pandemic. 

The school, colleges and universities were shut in March last year amid the outbreak of dreaded Covid-19 in Bangladesh. Classes and examinations were taken online during the pandemic.