Writ petition filed to reopen edu institutes immediately

A writ petition was filed with the High Court yesterday, seeking its directive on the government to reopen all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, immediately, considering the present situation.

Abdul Kaiyum Sarkar, principal of Bhawal Mirzapur Public School and College, submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the HC, requesting it to order authorities concerned of the government to reopen academic institutions immediately, strictly following health guidelines.

In the petition, he also prayed to the HC to issue a rule asking authorities to explain why the January 15 notification for extending closure of institutions till January 30 should not be declared illegal, petitioner's lawyer Faruque Alamgir Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

He said the HC may hold a hearing on the petition any day next week. Citing the petition, Faruque said educational institutions of the country have remained closed since March last year due to the pandemic situation, hampering study.

The closure was extended 12 times so far, he added.