All universities will reopen on May 24, after Eid-ul-Fitr, Education Minister Dipu Moni said in a press briefing this afternoon.

All halls of the university will reopen on May 17, she said.

All 1.30 lakh residential students will get vaccine by May 17, she added.

Dipu Moni also said that all teachers and employees of the public universities will be vaccinated before resuming classes at the institutions.

No examination will be held before universities reopen, but online classes will continue, she added.

The dates of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exams will be set considering the university reopening date and the government will consider the maximum age limit of BCS candidates accordingly, the minister said.

The government took the decisions when many students of different universities, including Dhaka, Jahangirnagar and Chattogram, are holding protests with the demand of reopening university halls.

On March 17 last year, the government closed all educational institutions aiming to contain the spread of coronavirus. The closure led to cancellation of exams, leaving academic calendars in disarray.

The government in phases extended the closure of all educational institutions till February 28.

The universities started online classes but many students remain out of the interim education management due to lack of digital devices and internet facilities.