Syed Shemul Parvez :
Students rallied and formed human chains in various parts of the country, including capital city in demand of reopening educational institutions, which were closed for long time due to the corona pandemic.
At Dhaka University, students of the university held a protest at the base of Raju Sculpture on Sunday demanding reopening of educational institutions and dormitories abiding by the health rules and holding of physical examinations very soon.
At that time, students demanded to ensure corona vaccines for all students.
According to the protesters, everything from shopping malls to public transport are running normally, but the educational institutions have been kept shut due to invisible reasons.
They also announced to hold a procession on the campus next Tuesday with the symbolic coffin of the university administration if physical examinations and classes are not held by opening the university halls and campus by June 1.
About the inequality in online classes, Rakib Hossain, a student of DU’s Accounting and Information Department, said, “The government has failed to issue at least a SIM card to the students. Besides, government backtracked in the name of giving mobile devices.
The discrimination done against students in the name of online classes is unprecedented in the world. ‘Therefore, he demanded to open educational institutions and to take exams with review classes.
At that time, many teachers of different departments of the campus expressed solidarity with the students.
Prof Asif Nazrul, a teacher of law department, criticised Education Minister Dipu Moni for her comment regarding reopening educational institutions.
After the rally, they brought out a procession and later announced a demonstration programme on Tuesday demanding the same issue.
Meanwhile, students of seven colleges under the DU also demonstrated with the same demand at Nilkhet intersection of the day.
They will announce tougher programmes if their campuses are not opened by June 1.
On Sunday, the student of Comilla University protested demanding the reopening of all educational institutions, including their long-closed University.
At the end of the protest, the agitated students also locked the administrative building.
Earlier on Saturday, Education Minister Dipu Moni said that there was no pressure from larger section of students and guardians to reopen educational institutions.
The government, however, has extended the ongoing lockdown by another seven days till June 6 in a bid to prevent the further spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
The Cabinet Division has issued a gazette notification in this regard on Sunday.
The restrictions imposed earlier due to the lockdown will remain in force from May 30 midnight till June 6, the notification said.
