The Dhaka University campus was full of students as face -to -face teaching restarted yesterday after it was closed for 18 months due to the Covid 19 outbreak.
The students of DU that has been vacant for a year and a half rushed now everywhere on the campus such as classrooms, libraries, seminars and cafeterias.
Students were seen attending their classrooms in a lively environment in different academic buildings. They attended classes according to health guidelines and maintaining physical distance.
Madhu’s canteen was abuzz with student activists, some of them marching and marching around campus.
At the entrance, had to wear their masks and show evidence of at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. In some departments, the participation rate ranges from 80 to 90 percent, according to the teachers .
‘Campus is an integral part of our student life but it has long been closed. Now that it has reopened, I feel it has brought my life back, ”said Mohiminul Khan, a third year student in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka.
Thofail Ahmed Tarun, a third-year student in the Department of Philosophy, said, “We’re really looking forward to today. We’re very bored at home. We miss the campus and our friends.”
Students began entering the campus at 8:00 AM, and university staff and teachers stood at the gates to check temperatures, distribute masks and help clean the hands of everyone who entered.
Teachers and students say that the authorities have divided each class into two or groups to maintain physical distance into classes
“In-person classes and exams have resumed and all the students are complying with the health safety guidelines,” said Prof Abu Md Delwar Hossain, dean of the arts faculty.
DU Vice-Chancellor M Akhtaruzzaman said, “It is positive that all students are vaccinated and are happy to return to classes.”
He expressed satisfaction as students maintained proper health safety guidelines.
The VC also said the university has planned a a series of steps to help students recover from academic losses education losses of students.
The DU academic council in a meeting a few months ago had decided to shorten the semester and academic year, reduce vacations and take others such steps to cover up for the loss.
Dhaka University reopened its residential hall for all regular students on October 10 five days after the halls were reopened for only bachelor’s final-year and master’s students on October 5.
RU HALLS REOPEN
On the Rajshahi University campus, RU vice-chancellor Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar inaugurated the reception of students at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall at 10:00am and welcomed the students with masks, hand sanitisers, roses and chocolates.
Students, who have taken at least one dose of Covid vaccine, were allowed to enter their respective halls on production of their vaccination documents and identity cards from 10:00am.
The vice-chancellor said, ‘We’ve completed all preparations to welcome the students. An isolation unit has been set up at the university medical centre and a dedicated ambulance and an adequate number of oxygen cylinders have been arranged too’, he added.
He also said that necessary steps would be taken to fill the academic gap created by the Covid pandemic after the meetings of the academic council were held on the issue.
“The hall is like our second home… Returning to the campus and having fun with friends after so long is overwhelming,” said Bablu Hasan, a resident of Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall.
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