DU to reopen halls as per govt decision: VC

Residential halls of Dhaka University will be reopened as per the decisions made by the government and not on March 13 as was decided earlier, said Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman.

He revealed the information at a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon after a meeting of the Dhaka University Academic Council.

The ongoing examinations can be continued with consent from the teachers and students of the respective departments, he said.

"However, the halls will not be reopened right now," he added.

"Around two weeks will be needed to prepare the halls for reopening. This is why the Academic Council has decided to resume regular activities two weeks after May 17 with co-ordination from the faculties and the departments. Exam and class routines which were planned based on the previous decision of reopening halls on March 13 have been suspended," the VC said.

Prof Akhtaruzzaman confirmed that all the teachers and students will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by April 17.

Amid protests at several public universities across the country demanding the reopening of residential halls, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday said the government had decided to reopen all the university dormitories on May 17 and classes will begin physically in classrooms one week later, on May 24.

Several decisions have been made regarding the higher education of students keeping in mind their safety from the coronavirus infection, the minister said.

All the university teachers and residential students will be vaccinated against Covid-19 before the reopening of halls, she said, adding that decision on reopening of schools and colleges has not been taken yet.

Earlier in the day, around 100 students of DU broke into Shahidullah hall of the university at about 12pm by breaking the lock, two days after students of Jahangirnagar University did the same at their dormitories.