Home ›› 18 Oct 2021 ›› Front
The Dhaka University resumed its on-campus academic activities on Sunday after being closed for around 19 months due to the Covid-19 restrictions, and the campus was abuzz with the presence of enthusiastic students.
The university prepared for the onrush of returning students with thermal scanners installed at the entrances of academic buildings and banners featuring hygiene instructions hanging on the walls.
Classroom seating has been rearranged keeping social distancing in mind, and wearing masks has been made mandatory in the campus premises. On a spot visit, The Business Post found many departments and institutions taking previously postponed exams and classes.
However classes are yet to resume at some departments, students say. Many students were seen hanging out in their favourite areas around the campus between classes, just like the old days.
Robin Khan, a final year student of the Botany Department, came to the campus from Munshiganj on a university bus.
Sharing his experience, he said, “The iconic red bus brings a lot of emotions. We call it the dream peddler. This red bus ferries our dreams from dawn till dusk. After so many days, I have returned to my campus on this bus just like before.”
Law student Rezaul Karim said, “We had online classes amid the pandemic, and now we are preparing for the exams.”
After the coronavirus outbreak hit Bangladesh, Dhaka University, similar to every other educational institution across the country, shut down on March 18 last year.
Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman told reporters, “Academic activities will be carried out keeping the ‘Loss Recovery Plan’ in mind to mitigate the session jam caused by the pandemic.
“The process of opening this university came to fruition with the launch of these academic activities on Sunday. We inspected and found that most of the students were vaccinated and had 100 per cent attendance. The students are also very excited to be back in class.”
Pro Vice-Chancellor (education) Prof ASM Maksud Kamal said, “Under the ‘Loss Recovery Plan,’ we will complete six-month semesters within four months, and course methods will be completed in eight months instead of twelve.
“But the syllabus cannot be abridged in any way. We have plans to take extra classes according to the syllabus. If necessary, the university will also take classes on Saturdays. Autumn and winter vacations have been cancelled.”
He added that the university’s goal is to make up for the academic loss suffered by our students during the pandemic.
Prof Kamal further said, “A department or institute can take a maximum of 40 per cent of their classes online.”
The university began taking online classes from the first week of July 2020 as the Covid-19 cases were spiking across the country. On October 5, the university administration began opening its dorms for its students.
