Should university students protest against classes during hartal?

We asked this question on Facebook and have compiled some of your responses.

TAKI UDDIN
Safety is the number one priority, my graduation can wait if I am alive, but if (God forbid) I somehow get injured or die, who is the graduation waiting for?
Universities these days have advanced in many ways and faculties are aware of all the digital ways they can take classes...why not use them? I mean a Skype or Google Hangout session with a group of students can't hurt; increasing assignments marking and other means to get the required pass grades with no semester loss...why not use them? In the current situation, universities should come up with better alternatives for the sake of students, to finish the semester with zero loss.

ATIKUL ISLAM
We will find so many exams in life. We will not find our life, if we lose our life.

Responding to the above:
TAHMID UR
The rest of us don't want “so many exams in life”. Some of us actually want to move forward.

AUSTIN S. SARKAR
Maybe they are not getting it now but they will realise it when they see that their graduation has been delayed... then they will think maybe they should have gone to classes during hartals... and we'll see how they like it when they have to work during hartals.

ANANYA FARAZIN HAQ
The situation isn't good – agreed. But we are also lagging behind. In the long run the loss will be ours. Our graduation will be delayed. I don't think class suspension is a solution as hartals and blockades will not end soon.

SAZID HASAN KHAN
I don't think there is much case to be made for not doing classes during hartals. I live in Savar. That is the outskirts of Dhaka. All of my family have been doing their offices since day one of the hartals. And on whatever days I decided to hell with it and travel to Dhaka, I did not find anything out of the ordinary. I think if the universities can finish their classes within 3pm, students should not object. Most of us are carrying out our normal lives anyways. We still go out, date, meet friends. And even in serious cases I think the universities should make a conscious effort to hold online classes or upload class lectures via YouTube/Hangouts. They have the technology and means to do it

ISHMAM ZAFAR
Why not? They pay for the education. The money is difficult to earn, and even harder to spend. These students lives' will be made through this knowledge (if Allah wills). They are at full liberty to have their say heard.

NABIL RIYAD
No, we should protest against hartal, not against attending classes. If this situation is going on, will we stay at home for the whole month and year? Our parents who provide our tuition fees are going to their offices everyday so why can't their children attend the classes and graduate in time?

SHAH IMTIAZ HOSSAIN
If safety is ensured – while attending classes during the strikes – by the authority, I see no meaning in protesting against classes. Or the authority should find an alternate way to teach the students without attending classes during strikes.

JOYONTO ROY CHOWDHURY
Well safety is not an issue that you can compromise on! Our government has failed to ensure our safety. The blasts around the city, burning of people have not ended. For the law enforcement agencies or for the university authorities it is not possible to ensure security of students' lives outside university premises. Even if anybody claims to do so, it is illogical if you just consider the ratio of students to government-deployed security forces. The universities are bound to follow government instructions but students reserve the right to raise their voices about the security crisis. To help the flow of usual education, alternatives to attending classes physically can be considered under the current circumstances. I recommend the same for schools as well. When people are out to roam on streets during strikes, they choose it with their will, whether they report to burn unit or home that is absolutely their decision. When you are forced to be out of home by your university, the authorities should take the liability of any mishap.

MOHAIMIN AL AOUN
I don't understand why you would not just put the contents of the cancelled classes up online for the students? Slides, or even lecture videos. You could cover the material and stay on schedule.

ASHRAFUL ISLAM SIAM
If the government university students can attend their classes during blockade, why can't private university students? You guys should carry the classes on, somehow...