Education minister Dipu Moni on Monday informed the cabinet meeting that all universities across the country would be able to reopen and resume academic activities by this month.
She said that the universities were taking all preparations to the end but renovation of residential halls was taking time as all universities — both public and private — along with their student halls have remained closed since March 18, 2020 due to the Covid outbreak in the country.
Cabinet secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed reporters at the secretariat about the discussions at the weekly cabinet meeting held virtually.
Chairing the meeting from her official residence Ganobhaban, prime minister Sheikh Hasina asked about the delay in reopening of the universities while schools and colleges reopened on September 12 with the Covid infection rate declining steadily.
‘The prime minister asked about the delay in reopening of the universities as schools and colleges have already reopened. The education minister informed the cabinet meeting that the universities were taking all preparations and they would be able to reopen by this month,’ the cabinet secretary said.
He said the cabinet was informed that renovations of the halls were necessary as they had remained closed for more than one and a half years and it was taking time.
Anwarul said that Bangladesh had offers to cultivate land in African countries like South Sudan and Liberia on lease while it had also opportunities to export its agricultural produces to Scandinavian countries.
The prime minister formed a committee with agriculture minister, foreign minister and commerce minister and asked it to explore the country’s potential in home and aboard in the field of agriculture.
Sheikh Hasina also asked the authorities concerned to look into whether the people aged below could be vaccinated against the Covid-19.
Cabinet members and officials concerned attended the cabinet meeting from the secretariat.