‘Reopen educational institutes from Sept’
A platform of students, teachers, and guardians yesterday demanded all educational institutes be reopened in September instead of October.
A meeting of ministries and stakeholders concerned decided on Thursday to extend closure of all kindergartens, and primary, secondary and higher-secondary schools until September 11. Universities, however, can start in-person classes after October 15.
Students-Teachers-Guardians Forum at a human chain at the capital's Jatiya Press Club also demanded immediate vaccination of all students and teachers.
Leaders of BNP, pro-BNP parties and different professional organisations joined the programme.
Speakers there said the government has declared to reopen institutions on condition of all students and teachers being vaccinated, which is not possible right now, as there are not enough vaccine doses.
The only reason behind closing institutions is that authorities are scared of any possible anti-government movement, they said.
Participants also criticised a speech of Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, where he said that he is fearing possible "instability" in educational institutions after they are reopened.
Selim Bhuiyan, the forum's convener, said the true intention behind not reopening the institutes can be found in Quader's speech.
"The government has no goodwill to reopen schools and colleges. That's why they are saying they will reopen after completing the vaccination programme. If they actually wanted that, the programme for students would already be completed," he said.
If educational institutions are not reopened in September, they will go for a united and massive movement, he added.
Participants brought placards stating "We don't want auto-pass; we want classes and exams", and "The light will come, if institutes reopen".
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikko, said the government is saying it will bring crores of vaccine doses, but only four percent of Bangladesh's population have been vaccinated so far.
"If authorities thought about educational institutes, it would have been no big deal for them to vaccinate all students, as 37 lakh doses are needed. But they didn't want to reopen in fear of anti-government movements," he said.
BNP vice-chairperson and journalist Shaukat Mahmood, former Dhaka University Central Students' Union vice president Khairul Kabir Khokon, BNP leader Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal president Ishtiyak Aziz Ulfat also spoke at the event.
On March 17, 2020, the government closed all educational institutions due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The closure led to cancellation of exams and left academic calendars in disarray.
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