Govt mulling closure of educational institutions
Amid concerns from students and their guardians following the first confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government is mulling over closing the educational institutions.
"Closing schools and colleges is being discussed at the high level of the government. We are intensively monitoring the situation. We will take necessary steps in the right time," he said at a press conference after an AL secretariat meeting on the celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the party president's political office at Dhanmondi in the city.
Sources at the meeting said several leaders present there spoke in favour of closure of all educational institutes.
Up until yesterday, the decision had remained in limbo, with the health and education ministries referring to each other for taking the decision.
Since March 8, when the first novel coronavirus-affected person was diagnosed, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, on several occasions, said the decision of shutting down educational institutions will be taken following the directives of the health ministry.
Education Minister Dipu Moni on several occasions also said the government will decide on closure of schools after consulting with specialists.
However, Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday noon after an inter-ministerial meeting told reporters that the education ministry will take decision regarding shutdown of educational institutions.
Asked about the ministry's decision, he said they gave directives to representatives of the education ministry to beef up hygiene measures and provide soaps and sanitisers.
"Moreover, we've asked them to disinfect benches after classes," he said.
Replying to another question, Maleque said, "It's not in the hands of the health ministry. The education ministry will take decision on it."
"We are in touch with them [health ministry]. We will definitely take the decision, but it will be based on advice given by experts and different agencies. It is a matter of joint decision. If there is any adverse situation, we will take decision in favour of closure of educational institutions," Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury told The Daily Star when asked about health minister's comment.
"We cannot take the decision unilaterally, "he added.
Yesterday evening, Dipu Moni once again said till now no situation has arisen for shutting down educational institutions.
"We will close down education institutions if we see that the virus is spreading through local transmission", she said while attending a programme in the capital yesterday.
"There are imported cases. We are trying to stop that; we are checking them [persons arriving to Bangladesh from abroad] at airports. Some of them are even being sent to quarantine," she added.
STUDENTS DEMAND CLOSURE OF UNIVERSITIES
Students of Dhaka University and Rajshahi University yesterday demanded suspension of academic activities, fearing potential spread of coronavirus.
First-year students, mostly ones who live in residential halls of Dhaka University, gathered in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture demanding suspension of all academic activities.
They also said medical camps should be immediately established on campus to test people for coronavirus. If anyone is found infected, the university authorities must ensure proper treatment, they demanded.
The students submitted a memorandum to the vice chancellor in this regard.
No classes were held at the departments of economics, mass communication and journalism, political science, zoology and a number of others, as almost all students boycotted classes and ongoing examinations.
Meanwhile, students of Rajshahi University too formed a human chain with the same call. Around 11am, a group of students gathered in front of the Senate Bhaban to press home their demands.
Students of both universities said the coronavirus could spread easily in classrooms and residential dormitories, as students are usually in close proximity there.
They also said many students have to use public transport to commute to and from the university, which can lead to further spread of the virus, if anyone were to be infected but not yet diagnosed.
TEACHERS' BODIES ALSO WORRIED
Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers' Association yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, seeking temporary closure of all educational institutions.
"We urge the prime minister to direct the concerned ministry to take necessary decisions to declare temporary closure of all the educational institutions or to make the summer vacation effective before the scheduled time," read the memorandum, signed by its president Prof ASM Maksud Kamal and secretary general Prof Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan.
Dhaka University Teachers' Association yesterday wrote to the university's vice chancellor, urging him to suspend all classes or start the summer vacation in advance, and to ask students to leave dormitories immediately.
DUCSU MAKES FIVE-POINT DEMAND
Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) yesterday put forward a five-point demand to the university authorities, including closure of university temporarily or declaring early summer vacations, to ensure safety of students.
The student body, in a press statement signed by its assistant general secretary Saddam Hossain, urged the university administration to impose a ban on holding all kinds of political, social, cultural, sports and other events on the campus.
Their other demands include ensuring adequate supply of hand sanitisers at all residential dorms; setting up an emergency unit at the university medical centre; and controlling mass gathering on the university campus.
In light of students' and teachers' demand, university proctor AKM Golam Rabbani said the authorities will sit with chairpersons of the departments, hall provosts and directors of the institutes today to discuss the matter.
FOREIGN MINISTER FEARS PANIC
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday feared panic among people, if educational institutions are closed suddenly.
Talking to reporters after a seminar on 'Bangabandhu's Unfinished Memoirs: A Review' organised the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium, he said the decision will be taken in due time.
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